The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-09-17
The Dressmakers' Convention.
New York Sim

lNeW AOrk sum-
There was more excitement at yes
terday's meeting Of the International
Society of Dressmakers, in the concert
hall of Madison Square Garden, than
on the opening day. There was a big
ger crowd, both of members and stran-
gers, on hand, and livelier desire on
the part of the former to talk all at
once. BY far tie most interesting fea-
ture yesterday was a heart to heart
talk by Mrs. BarstoW, which took
place at the regular afternoon address
and was begun Immediately after she
had dived into the question box, which
stood at one corner of the platform.
Now, here is some one" she said,
reading from a slip of paper. who
asks: Are gowns to be fastened in the
back or in the front this fall?' How
would you answer that?" turning to
an authority sitting on the platform.
'They may be fastened either way,
but none but a slender woman should
ever fasten her dress in the back In
the ihandsomer and better constructed
style of gown it is not considered de-
sirable to show where it is fastened"
Are full skirts still to be worn and
how are they cut?" was the next ques-
ton.
THE full skirt has come to stay"
announced Mrs. Barstow. at will
probably be wiki US just as long as the
shirt waist has been. The tightly fit
ting habit back model is decidedly out
at present, and it will stay out While
sleeves continue to be so full, for the
reason that full sleeves and a tight
skirt give woman an overbalanced
look"
I'D Jumped a woman in the audience.
speaking of Skirts said she. Il want
to ask the opinion of some of the wo-
men here on one point. Suppose one
makes a skirt for a customer exactly
the length the customer wants it to be
and after it is sent home the woman
brings it back twice TO be made shor-
ter. Is it right in such a case to charge
for alterations or not?"
A sympathetic thrill went through
the crowd and half dozen women
started TO speak at once.
Suppose we have rising vote on
that" said Mrs. Barstow. "All those
in favor of charging for alterations
stand" Most of the audience got on
their feet in a hurry.
81 hope every dressmaker here got
up" was the comment from the plat
form.
An animated discussion followed The
question, Are long or short coats to
be worn this winter
Beer. q tTeUCn dulhOIIlNs NbS liSih
up as advocating a coat of medium
length and seni-fitting.
But" instructed the leader, there
is a variety of models this year from
which to choose. There is one point.
though. l want to emphasize: On no
account should a stout woman wear 4
perfectly plain tight fitting coat"
Other questions which brought wo-
man after woman to her feet were:
what will be the preferred cut of
evening bodices?" and What is the
best method Of cutting waist lining,
''As to evening gowns" observed a
specialist. dinner dresses Will nc cut
with a moderately low round neck and
elbow sleeves, and opera and ball
gowns either square or round neck and
as low as modesty viii permit"
At long past the time fixed for
speech making tie dressmakers were
talking over a question propounded by
a timid little woman with weak
voice: us there any rule for cutti7=
a bias fold so that it will really he on
the bias2'
The question box, it was announced,
would be a feature of this afternoons