The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-07
ONE KIND OF MODELS
THEIR BUSINESS Is TO DISPLAY
FASHIONABLE CLOTHING.
comfortable Salaries by Trying On
Garments for Dealers.
New York Tribune.

- tAA&k NA1AS a ~
than a thousand: which estimate leads TO
the conclusion that good looks are not
scarce in the island of Manhattan. for these
young women owe success entirely TO their
fine physique. The models here alluded to
are not those who sit TO artists. and whose
charms are transferred TO canvas, but those
who try on suits, silk waists. Jackets,
cloaks and capes for the benefit Of the Gus
toners in the stores and dressmaking es-
adjustments.
The more exclusive and expensive Of the
uptown women's talors all employ models
TO display their gowns. The best firms in
the shopping districts have them, but the
great majority OF models find occupation
IN the big wholesale houses in middle and
lower Broadway, a number of firms in that
vicinity employing as many as a dozen the
whole year round. The average down.
town model is paid from $12 to SIS a week,
but an unusually pleasing subject may COM
mand as high as SIS. Those in the big re-
tail establishments who combine the office
of a model with that of a saleswoman get
$50.
TIL available model must measure thir-
ty-six inches about the bust and twenty
three or twenty-four around the waist, her
height being in proportion, the trying on
of gowns and cloaks for women built on a
less liberal plan being intrusted to the
misses models; that is, to uniformed girls
fourteen or fifteen years old.
SATISFIED WITH THEIR WORK.
Il think our work is much to be preferred
to that of the ordinary salesgirls.' said a
handsome model OF the brunette type. en-
ployed in a large suit and cloak house in
Broadway, a concern which is said to be
the largest OF its Kind in the world. Our
hours are shorter, and. for months at a
course the very busy months are busy in
deed, but we are treated with the greatest
respect, and We always get off at half-past
) the year round. Some OF the firms in
town lay off many of their models as soon
as business gets slack. but this firm never
does; our salary goes on just the same,
whether there is much or nothing doing.
We ere always certain of our vacation of
two weeks, and certain of our pay during
that time. OF course, If a girl wants d
longer vacation she has TO pay for the eX-
ira time"
d you nave to dress in any prescribed
Style?" inquired one interested In the sub
ject.
'Oh, yes. We are required to dress in
black; all of us; just a simple, tight-fitting,
waist. and a good style, plain skirt. You
mustn't judge of our uniform by the way
we look this morning" she added, glancinS
at her companion. "But as there is very
little doing this month we are permitted TO
wear cotton waists, they being cooler and
more convenient. and she adjusted a stud
III u DlQt-SlI fDtu III waist. IL
our busy time" she continued, land We
will be buster than ever this year on ac-
count of so many of the drygoods houses
beginning to deal in furs."
You try on the furs and cloaks?"
Eyes, and that is warm and tiresome work
when the thermometer is in the nineties.'
How long do you have tC keep the gar
ments or p"
"Oh. sometimes the buyer does not know
just what he wants and We must await his
decision, or try a number OF garments TO
see how he likes them; then, again, in ten
minutes, a man will buy a quantity of goods,
and we will be released. In the winter, in
February, when everybody is cloaked up
and wearing heavy clothing, we adopt tight
fitting jerseys and try on thin, unlined
summer costumes for the next seasons
trade. Trying on the thin things in winter,
though. isn't as bad as cloaking up in the
heavy suits in summer.
Il think it's a great deal nicer to be in
a wholesale house than in an uptown store
she went on, because we are so much
freer and have so much more time to our
selves. In the stores uptown the girls are
on their feet all the time, and there isn't
much cessation in work the year round,
you see. because so many people from a
distance come to New York shopping, even
Another advantage OF her calling which
this shrewd young woman pointed out was
the fact that the models had the opportu-
nifty of getting really hrst-class gowns AID
Jackets for much less than actual cost.
W rather pride ourselves on dressing
we'll and being in good style" she ex-
DIdlICu. IL ID IL part " IA DuSiucoS.
And looking at the superb young figure,
straight as an arrow and in beautiful pro-
portion from head to heel, one could but
feel that pride in her appearance was her
just right and most becoming.
mo matter how good a models figure
may be. if she doesn't walk well she will
of an uptown firm. "A certain grace of
bearing and movement is quite as essen
tia, in her vocation as a weil-developed
fig Ire. a woman comes in here TO buy a
gown, for instance (our gowns worth 800
and over are all shown on mOdelSD; she
doesn't know exactly what she wants, but
in looking over the assortment finds one
that suits in every respect but a certain
arrangement of the trimming. Perhaps the
effect which she objects to may be new in
style, and on that account may strike her
as odd, when in reality 1t is a great addi-
ton to the costume. Seeing that gown on
a graceful, well-built model, as she walks
about for Inspections. the idea of the modiste
who fashioned ii Will be borne TO the would
be purchaser and she VIII understand its
it only on a lay figure. y good model, one
who really understands her business. can
sell any amount of gowns that might be un-
noticed and passed over otherwise.
MODELS HERE AND ABROAD.
The Importance Of the model as an adj
junct to trade is not recognized so widely
here in America as it is abroad" he went
on TO say. "At Routes and other famous
outftters in Paris and London there are
models not only of one type of beauty, but
of all the varying ~types-blond, brunette
and intermediate compilations. one model
will be tall, slender and willowy in form;
another will be plump and petit; another
of Juno-like proportions, ali styles 10 suit
a varying type of customer. The would-be
purchaser is shown into a room that bears
no outward sign of the nature of the bus
mess TO be transacted. a few good pic
lures. a flower or two, but everything very
plain in furnishing and appointments. What
style of gown does madame requireT a
factotum has asked at the door; and ac-
cordins to the kind of gown ordered is the
special room into which madame is shown,
one apartment being devoted to purchasers
of bail and reception toilets, another to
street suits, yet another to outing gowns
and costumes for the house. Madame waits
in the empty room, and soon d model, IN
appearance somewhat near her physical
type, comes in and walks quietly about
that the customer may see the gown she
wears in every aspect, sidewise, back, front
and t~hree-quarters vieT. That gown having
been surveyed the model withdrawS and
another of the same type, but wearing a
different gown, takes her place and so the
toilets are shown until madame selects the
one she likes.
This, of course, is in fastidious estab-
lishments, where the artist will not make
a cape for a short, stout woman or other
abroad have a much harSv0 time IN some
WAYS than they have % Us side of the
water. A moderately. goxd 9ure Will com
Paris and London th,f de4 and absolute
Wear oorsets that. in }he RIA nature of
their construction. mrft be host uneom-
reputation for shape $hess dan not relax
her lacings even wb{n off duQ, for fear
She might spoil the fnviable t8er of her
waist In fhs some respd eT rs n srs exen t fne
foreign models nav the Advantage over