New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-29
THE ACTRESS SHOPPING
Not Like Other Womer--No joy
IN Lingering OUer Bargain Tables.

There is an existing belief that all women shop
sike-in joyous anticipation and patient realization
but this is not true The actress shops in class
by herself"
SO said Paula Edwardes. she measured new
pair OF long suede gloves TO be worn at the Win
some Winnie opening on Tuesday night
You see. when Mrs. John decides to buy a new
party dress. she talks it over with Mr. John on
Saturday. night. On Sunday she persistently. re-
ligiousy. goes through the Advertisements in ct
least five papers and settles upon the most prouais
ing sales OF silk. velvet laces and Innings This in
formation she carefully inscrbes in her near Russia
notebook On Sunday evening her sister and Mr..
Johns first cousin drop in. and the three women de-
eide upon the color-not without drawing Mr.. John
into the discussion times. The morning
they all three scrape up their respective breakfast
dishes, hurry the children of school, throw the
beds TO air-and meet big department store just
the doors open. Here they buy the crepe de
chine. They go four different sales before they
find the right shade of panne velvet and three
other stores visited before just the right width
OF lace is discovered. When they stop for cup Of
hot chocolate and a charlotte at they
. up TO the question of all-taffeta drop skirt,
near-silk with taffeta ruffe. They reach home
just in time for dinner having bought the rock and
a score OF bargains they hadn't in mind when they
] left home And they've had perfectly lovely day
But such joys are not for the actressi No doubt
the little matinee girls imagine that Miladi Actress
has delightful time choosing all the glittering
stage frocks she wears. And how is il done? 1t is
/ all accomplished by else. the actress
merely furnishing her figure for the fittings First
! the playwright has something say about the
gown. Perhaps he wishes it to express in coloring
and cut. the character to be portrayed Then the
manager looks the part and makes suggestions
! 70 the costume designer. who draws up the plate
Next the modste passes upon the plate and decides
whether II Is practical And IL is the modiste her
assistant who. in the most prosaic fashion and
the quickest methods. proceeds to buy the materials
! At last the actress-yes. even If she be star.
sometimes-is Informed by the stage manager that
she will have fitting at such and such hour the
next day. Then, and not until then. does she get
/ glimpse Of the new gown. Perhaps she thinks il
bit too striking. and suggests pale applique instead
Of silver lace. The modiste shrugs her shoulders
and remarks. NO contrast ana Afilad Actress bows
to the inevitable The costume designer settles
the fashion her hat but If she is quite good she
buy her gloves, her stockings and her slippers
provided. OF course, that they correspond with the
ubiquitous plate
Now, leave il 10 any confirmed shopper What
pleasure does ;he actress get Of this processT
Even when actress reaches that point where
she goes TO Paris for all her gowns. she must
bear in mind the role she is TO play. and leave the
evolution Of her frocks largely the playwright,
manager, costume designer and French modiste.
/ The only suggestion which offered for my ex-
travagant gown worn in the first act Of 'Winsome
Winnie that IL be pale blue This. because ]
am triAe superstitious. and pale blue is my
lucky color. But whether it to be OF chiffon,
]
went for the first fitting
In buying gowns and trihes for in private
life, the actress who acts the whole season through
has more strenuous experience Sometimes her
shopping is done after this method She finds
that she is 10 play weeks in one CITY, She
/ Immediately ascertains the OF the best firm
dealing in ready-to wear garments of high grade
or the modiste who makes specially Of catering
10 theatrical women OF Sometimes she
writes ahead that she will be in on a certain day
and wants certain style of gown made for her at
once Materials are then prepared for her inspee-
ton. designs drawn. and some day. before or
after rehearsal. IL Is all settled In q hurry and
fittings made IN the strenuous fashion.
'One OF my oldest shopping experiences came
just after started out with 'winsome winnie
had bought. just before leaving New-York. a very
smart Paauin gown in palest yellow and white. but
had had time TO select the hat TO with #
In both Baltimore and Washington were busy
Fehearsing. and / reached Philadelphia, where 1
had an important social engagement with the gown
ss sdn,gp askss n tissue psPer-bus no hat New
rehearsals. in addition to which my music teacher
Rs esaSsG % sy X Fe ans ssy
looked at my .ye low ana white gown and my ar
Ing a note On my plano to, he effect that had
away g the nearest millinery shop ten minutes
before the singing teacher was TO arrive.
3 s' Rv must " s6Safs sm H4
and lend themselves readily to the ninistra ions
OF the tailor and presser. Second. in buying re-
thing eit striking. yet not loud-somefhins that
viii stamp her as the successful. well eroomed
up-to-ste woman Of the stage. and not the ia vdry
scubrette who wears stage finery Ia her first So
cisl function.
THE actress has TO make choice between two
evils when she shops. II she tells the clerk she is
an actress. Que at rehearsal a certain hour she
will pay double price for her purchases for IN Is
apparently considered perfectly justfnable 10 raise
prices for the overpaid % actress If she does not
hurry the clerk. she yin be late 70 the rehearsal
there can be the Joy Of lingering over bar
gain tables.
Another feature which attends the well known
actress on her shopping is recognition b. the
clerks and sometimes succession 81 Is silisst
questions Imaginable. Is II nice 10 lie on the