The Minneapolis journal., 1902-10-25
DESIGNING GOWNS
A Delightful Occupation Which .
Pretty Chicago Girl Finds
Remunerative.
Her Patterns Are frequently Copied
by the Big New York and
Paris Establishments.

faT1S Observation-Disclosures.
A. great many of the prettiest patterns
and designs labeled New York and
.'Paris' are originated in Chicago, and a I
Chicago girl does the work for which
the great Frenchman or the New York de-
signers receive the praise.
Miss Evelyn Perley, artist designer, sits {
all day long and every day thinking out" q
new and charming designs and garments 4
for the adornment Of other women. And
when she sees in the shop windows or the
illustrated journals New York" and
"Paquin'' creations that originated in her
own busy brain, and were transferred from
the realm Of the imaginary to that OF the
actual right under her own personal super
vision she smiles. She can afford to smile, /
can Miss Perley, for she has a gift for de- !.
signing that amounts to practical genius, !.
and this genius is being more widely rec (
ognized every day.
"Of course, love Designing says the
girl artist with enthusiasm ''Who could
help it, with any number Of lovely mate
rials to choose from in working out my
designs, and with free play for my taste,
my talent, my fingers, and my brain. How
did T begin the pretty work Well, every!
dressmaker is designer, in a way. you {
know, and when circumstances compelled
me to earn my own living I went into
ressmaking-because it came most easily,
to me-in Des Moines, Iowa. But, all
though T was supposed to be doing or
from sewing, I simply couldn't keep away
form designing, from doing things In an
original way I suppose. So, first thing I
knew, my employer being a kind and ap-f
preciative man, quick to recognize and en-
courage individuality soon found myself
designing for one Of the largest firms in
the city. And then-weu, by and by. Z
found myself here''-here being the large
wholesale house from which Miss Perley's
clever and original designs go out to most
parts of the world Many Of the pretttest
Of them, as has been hinted, come back to J
Chicago, with astonishing figures on the
price tags, and with the delightful under!
standing on the part Of most people that
they are here on first visit to the city in !
stead of returning to the place OF their
birth.
IT design silk waists and b1ouses. silk
petticoats, and fluffy evening dresses Of
net or crepe de ctline,' continues Miss
Perley modestly, when questioned about
her work and methods. How do do
it? Sometimes I sketch the designs first,
sometimes I work them out in the mate
| rails. Always I drape them on figure
| models to be sure that every line and fold
is good and artistic. A poor line or re-f
| suit would distress me greatly. I done
rest-I can't-until every effort make rec
suits in finished picture.
| IT have great times, often, trying to
find the color I can see in my own mind
and for which I am simply hungry. Some
| times it takes great deal of trouble fand
| days and days to get just the right shade
or combination Of tones But it paysa Oh,
| yes, indeed it pays. The feeling for color
is remarkably insistent thing, you know.
I couldn't imagine taking a substitutes
when I had once decided upon certain
| thing in this way
| Since the color combinations that are
| turned out by the clever girl are tnvari-
ably delicate, striking, and satisfactory,
| 1t would seem that it does pay" to walt
| for them. And again Miss Perley smiles
| when admiring and enthusiastic individuals
| inquire, lightly, ':how on earth she hap
pened'' to think of putting those shades
together. Flowers, the skies, the trees,
all sorts of nature" combinations, from
all these things and many others the art-I
ist in dainty materials receives sugges-I
tions and aid And she learns quite as
much from the mistakes Of others, She
AYERS, as from the innu1nerabte successes
by and through which her own reputation
is made.
But the work, like any other kind Of ar
tistic endeavor, Is most arbitrary and in-
sistent in it's demands. There Is no shut
ting Of the whole affair up in the desk, tho
working day over. Always her work stays
with Miss Perley, subconsctously II not
in frank and open persistence, and every
where she goes-to drive, to the play, to
church, to the countryside Is alertly and
eagerly observant and receptive to new
| ideas. ... .. =
"Yet the best ideas have are inspira-
tions," she declares
1t takes a large force of skilled seam-
stresses to carry out the plans and ideas
that originate in Miss Perleys fertile
bro In hrt evary design that leaves her
desk is so thoroughly worked out" and
perfected, down to every smallest detail,
that-~it could be translated into silk or
satin even during her absence. A daring
dreamer, she often demands materials or
trimmings that have to be specially made
or found for her, and she insists always
upon absolute nicely of finish and upon
strictest adherence to the carefully
planned lines and details which result In
sacred to the clever Drained, inventive,
and dainty fingered men and women OF
France alone.
favorite theory of Miss Perley, herself
tall, slender, and graceful of figure, with
charming manners, handsome face, and
peculiar and attractive distinction Of
bearing, is that almost every woman may
be made physically attractive il properly
clothed. So, when working out" designs
and models, she considers always. the
kind of woman, short and stout, tall ana
willowy, or middle aged and "stocky for
whose especial benefit the garment ID
being arranged. Then, with this mental
image in view, she makes no mistakes in
planning or trimming. Every line and fold
and tiny detail is all as it should be, ad-
mirable in its own place.
FOR LOST CHILDREN.
Tn Ncpv vorH Lost cS<G