Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-07
WEAR fine CLOTHES
American Women in Paris
Find a New Occupation.
SHOW OFF ! COSTUMES
TEE WORK IS LIGHT AND THEY
ARE WELL PAID.
Have Chance to Become Experts in
Styles-Why They Are
So Successful.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
PARIS, February 20, 1903.
us it true that the swell dressmakers of
the rue de la Paix have been importing
American girls as 'mannequins,' or show
ers-off of costumes? -
We heard the news first as question.
II have seen two of them myself" replied
smart youth at his mothers 5 o'clock.
There are a dozen; it is an invasion OF
American figures. The rue de la Paix can
not get on without them told another
knowing one in cafe.
Three Flcrodora' girls have been offered
f1attering terms by Y to do nothing but
wear Clothes, declared third American
about-town.
We did not believe it, because though the
'mannequins or showers-off' or 'triers-on'
Of the swell dressmaking establishments are
peculiarly well paid and, on this side, enjoy
peculiar opportunities to better themselves,
we could not imagine really smart American
girls in the employment Those who come
to Paris have money; those who need en-
ployment do not come to Paris.
It is Really True.
at Is true,'' the smart youths sister told
US the next day. James was with us.
That is how he came to see them. Mother
and I went to VS. with lady friend
from Philadelphia who Is buying like a
princess; SO we were admitted to the secret
salons, three large rooms on the third floor.
They took US through a dozen other rooms
to get to them-a maze'
"Well?'
There was question Of a ball gown. In
came a swell girl with the gown on her
back How she wore it! We knew her in
stantly for American; and we took her,
tI1.a 1lt- for hn had
trying on. Pardon said mother, not at
all pleased, you said you would show Us
an exclusive model
1T is the most exclusive kind Of model
but you are an Americana" said mother
to the swell girl in the ball gown. Then she
told US. She is an American girl who came
to Paris for the cultivation Of her voice.
After year her remittances broke down.
Her kind-hearted teacher Ut was Bouhy)
offered to go on with her on credit; she
could pay him when she got to singing.
Then this peculiar position offered ITSELF
Light Work and Good Pay.
what does she do?
"She wears fine clothes from 10 a. M to
p. m. in the working season, and in the dead
season she has three months leisure for
her studies But she works with her voice
trainer right along. He gives her short les
sons In the evening, one week; and once
a week she goes at noontime.'
How much do you suppose she makes?''
we asked.
''She told us that she got SEQ month, with
her lunches and dinners; and now and then
she gets a smart taiior-made costume for
scarcely more than. the price of the ma
terial; that counts.
Why They Succeed. '51asoe
There are two fine American girls at
KS" spoke up an American lady who
had just come In. '.They came over from
New York two months ago; and they are
considered an immense success You see
they have not only the true American fig
ure; but they also have the American taste
and sympathy. Through them American
customers can make the French dressmak-
ers understand their ideas. You know. our
women have never been willing to accept
Partisan styles bindly. They insist on their
American ideals; and much of the success
of these Partisan houses is due to the sug-
gestions of American customers Well.
tfese new 'mannequins' from home grasp
s s1aan SUGGESTIONS s instantly and make them
Then they have come to stay?'
surely. And now that a beginning has
been made, You may expect to see a hun
dred such girls from America In Paris with
In twelve months"
Already a Dozen.
We finally succeeded in getting an inter-
view with these two girls at ks and so
learned the whole story. There are at
least dozen such in Paris, all newcomers
Three are in fur houses. They get hand
somely paid, because they are girls of ex-
perience and taste, and part of their en-
pioyment is to make trips to New York
and back, to fetch and carry new ideas,
I'VE made our engagement with the x
house through Miss E. G., the Euro
pean buyer and idea collector of the firm
of = & Co. Of New York" these two
girls told US. Miss c. spends most or
her time in Paris, making trips, however
to Vienna and London, and coming four
times a year to New York. When she came
the last time, she had a commission to
find two girls capable Of filing this posi-
ton. 1 was already acting as 'manneauin
with New York firm, and Jane, here. was
born to wear fine clothes. Both Of US were
eager to have few years in one of the
swell Paris dressmaking establishments
And here we are!''
rs. the pay good?"
I'VE get enough to live nicely while pick
Ing up ideas in Paris. We are becoming
experts
I'm what?'
'In Styles" answered one.
Experts in Styles.