The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-08
LIGHT ON FALL FASHIONS.
THE DRESSMAkERS' CONVENTION
SETTLES SOME POINTS.

Full skirts and Medium Length Goats.
say the Experts-Questioh box
Stirs Up Discussion-Opera Gowns
May He as Low as Modesty Permits.
There was more excitement at yester-
days meeting of the International Society Of
Dressmakers, in the concert hall OF Madison
Square Garden. than on the opening day.
There was a bigger crowd, both of members
and strangers on hand, and nvelier desire
on the part of the former to talk all at once
BY far the most interesting feature yester-
day was heart to heart talk by Mrs. Bar
stow, which took the place OF the regular
afternoon address and was begun i'm
mediately 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 slip Of paper, who asks: Are
gowns to be fastened in the back or in the
front this fallT 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 hand
somer and better constructed style OF
gown it is not considered desirable TO show
where it is fastened
are they cut?" was the next question
THE full skirt has come to stay an
nounced Mrs. Barstow. 1T will probably
be with lis just az long as the shirt waist
has been. The tightly fitting habit back
model is decidedly out at present. and u
will stay out while sleeves continue to be
so full for the reason that full sleeves
and tight skirt give woman an over
balanced look
Up Jumped woman in the audience
a. II ,ls, Mt IN
ask the opinion of some of the women here
on one point. Suppose one makes skirt
for customer exactly the length the. GUS
toner wal hts it to he and after 1t is sent home
the woman brings it back twice to be made
shorter. Is it right in such case 10 charge
for alterations or not2'
A sympathetic thrill went through the
crowd and half dozen women started to
speak at once. =,
Suppose we have a rising vote on that. .
said Mrs. Barstow. "All those in favor OF
cha rging for alterations stand Most OF
the audience got on their feet in hurry. =.
II hope every dressmaker here got up, u"
was the comment from the platform.
An animated discussion followed the
question. Are long or short coats TO be
worn this winter?"
Beer, French authority. was held up as
advocating coat Of medium length and
semi-ftting.
but instructed the leader, there is a
variety Of models this year from which 10
choose. There Is one point, though, want
to emphasize: On no account should stout
woman wear perfectly plain tight fitting
coat"
other questions which brought woman
after woman to her feet were: What Will
be the preferred cut Of evening bodices!
and what is the best method Of cutting a
waist lining?"
AS to evening gowns observed special
ist dinner dresses W ill be cut with moder-
ately low round neck and elbow sleeves,
and opera and ball gowns either square or
round neck and as low as modesty will
permit
At long past the time fixed for speech
making the dressmakers were talking over
a question propounded by timid little
woman with a weak voice: as there any
rule for cutting bias fold so that it will
really be on the bias?'
The question box, it was announced,
would be feature of this afternoons pro-
gramme.