The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-23
HER PROFESSION IS
DRESSER OF BRIDES
Unique Vocation of Eoung Woman
Who Cares For Brides On We'd
ding Day-New and Pretty Call
ing.

Miss Eleanor Burwell is a young wo-
man who dresses brides. That is the
way she makes her living. and a very
good living at that.
The other day friend of mine was
married, and one morning about two
weeks before the eventful day, a card
was sent up to her, and 1 went down to
see the caller. a Miss Burwell, whose
name neither of us had ever heard be-
fore. She explained her business, and
my friend engaged her.
Early on the morning of the wedding
Miss Burwell appeared with her assist
ant. The entire rousseau, and / might
say, the bride herself. was turned over
to her. She first Investigated the we'd
ding outfit and sa what everything
was as it should be. She insisted on the
brides remaining quietly in bed until
10 o'clock, the wedding not being until
. o'clock in the afternoon. Then she
had her out and tried on the wedding
dress, gloves and slippers. Some alter
atoms, only a few stitches, were neces-
sary and she took them. Next she turn
ed her attention to packing the trunks,
and in less than two hours the task
was accomplished and a little book
containing a complete inventory was
put in the brides travelling bag. This
inventory gave not only the list of ar
ticles, but told exactly where they
could be found. By this time the bride
had finished her luncheon and was
persuaded to take a. nap and remain
in bed until called by Miss Burwell.
who with her assistant. left the house,
TO appear again promptly at $3.50.
Then tepid bath was prepared: the
bride awakened and while she was
taking it they Strengthened up the room
and laid out he bridal costume. The
dressing of the bride was accomplished
without he slightest hurry and in am
pie time. But best of all was the fresh
rosy face shown through the bridal
veil. 1t was so different from the bag
gard, nervous girl we had all expected
She was not a bit tired or worried and
feeling that she was looking her very
best, woman-like, she was supremacy
contented. Miss Burwell accompanied
her to the church door. guarded against
soiling her gown in the carriage. and
gave the final touch to her veil and
train as she entered.
After the ceremony she returned to
the house. Superintended the exchange
of the bridal for the going-away gown
gave the final arrangements to the last
trunk and travelling bag, set the room
to rights and left as quietly as the pro-
The next day saw her again and
asked her to tell me about her work.
How Miss Burwell Began.
Il began four years ago." she replied.
by dressing a friend of mine. and l
thought her mother, VINO was a very
delicate woman, would never get
through thanking me. She said I was
just the right person in the right place
nd
school and was on the lookout for
something to do to earn a living, 1 de-
cided to try dressing brides as a pro-
fession. i came to New York. as our
nearest big city, and affording the
largest field. OF course. had a few let
tiers of Introduction and a small amount
of money, less than $780, in my pocket.
My first customer was obtained
the minister to whom l had
come with a letter of introduction. The
bride was quite young and without
mother, so she depended on me entire
ly Her trousseau, quite an elaborate
one, had been prepared, but she was
as nervous as girl could very well
be ard keep her reason about her we'd
ding day. / treated her just about as
l did your friend. only she insisted on
my coming to her for two DAYS in
stead of one. and everybody compli-
[ had another engagement with a girl
out Of town whose trousseau 1 helped
to purchase. My work gave satisfac-
ton. and since then I have had my
hands full.
Many of my customers wish me to
assist them with their trousseau. that
is, in its selection and by seeing that
the dressnakerS and tailors give them
perfect fits; others wish me to do just
what | did for your friend. while there
are some who require me only to dress
them and arrange their wells. OF
course we'll trained. competent maid
could give her mistress much assist
ance on such an occasion. but my Gus
toners, as rule, are not the very
wealthy girls who can afford to keep
such an attendant.
While they pay me we'll for my
services they do not feel that they can
afford to keep expensive servants. OF
course | am compelled to keep UP with
spent two months in Paris last sum-
ner. August and September are the
poorest months in the year for we'd
iings. while October. February and
June are about the most popular. Often
during these months l have as many
as two brides day to dress. and sew
eral times / could have had as many
as four. but was obliged to refuse many
engagements for want of time
It Would Pay Other Women.
do 1 think it a work where othel.
can succeed? / see no reason
why they should not. Here in New
York there is certainly room for others,
because. as / have just said. i have
very often been compelled to refuse
According to my obser-
vations there is a demand for just
such person in all OF our larger cities
and a comfortable living to be earned.
But the woman who undertakes ii
must be willing to perform her work.
not only as well as any one else, but
she must do it just little bit better.