Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-03-30
BURN THEIR DRESSEr
RICH WOMEN THROW cAsT-oFF
GOWNS INTO THE FURNACE.
Thousands of Dollars Worth OF Fash
ionable Apparel Is Thus De-
stroyed Before 1t Is Half
Worn Out.


Cleveland Moffett, in the first Of Q
series OF articles on The Shameful Mis-
use OF Wealth, in Success Magazine tol
February. has this to say regarding the
costly gowns worn by the rich women
of Newport:
This brings me to an interesting tall
that had with a man at the head oi
one Of the largest dressmaking estab-
lishments in the world, with branches
in London. Paris. New York and, nat.
urally, Newport. We were standing
near the Casino at the fashionable hour.
1t was the height of the season, ant
beautifully gowned women were arrif-
ing every moment for the music ane
tennis. There they we're before us ID
gay and conspicuous groups, the much
talked Of and enyied society leaders.
dressed to be looked at and admired
And admiriug, as betitted, we proceeded
TO discuss them. my companion speaking
with the authority Of creator and as
penser Of styles.
Taken collectively" he said, "they
are the smartest gowned women IN the
world"
but not individually? | asked.
individually they sometimes lack
distinction and the note Of PERSONA
taste. They dress too much alike.
That's your affair, isn't it?" | sug-
gested.
WELL he said. I'VE do the best We
can. OF course, what you lack In TINS
country Is a court, With court functions
court dinners and court balls. You
never find the best dressed women in
republic.
| pondered this awhile, and then be
coming practical. asked what It costs
one Of these ladies whose duty it is e
shine in Newport for her gowns.
"Ten thousand dollars a year be
answered. promptly. I'VE have clients
who spend twelve thousand year, but
ten is enough We have many Whe
spend seven thousand year. II a WON
an spends only five thousand year w
do not take her very seriously.
"You mean five thousand for gowns
alone?"
sOf course" And ! was left TO mag
inc what might be the ladies' bill foi
hats. boots. lingerie, etc. not to forge
the sinuous automobile wells that were
futtering all about us.
How many new gowns does a smari
| woman need for the Newport season.
inquired
He thought a moment Counting
everything, about twenty"
And how much will they cost
apiece?"
/ THAT depends on the number Of hand
some ones. You can't get a really first
class gown from US for less than i've
hundred dollars"
/ protested that had heard of first
class gowns for less than that but h'
shook his head.
we sell gowns for two hundred and
fifty dollars and make more profit on
them than on those that cost five hun
dred. but no ambitious society woman
would think Of appearing. say at an i'm
portant dinner in a two hundred ane
fifty dollar gown. Il would injure heI
prestige.
Then he gave me some interesting
details in the making Of five hundred
dollar gown 1t appears that a single
yard of the trimming used for such a
gown may take five or six skillful girls
| French or Swiss) an entire week IN
the making The pattern. say leaves OF
flowers, must first be embroidered In
silk with the finest stitches, Then IL
must be gone over again in tiny trans
parent beads of different eolors. perhaps
in rhinestones. and finally the veins and
stems Of the leaves must be added one
BY enc in colored threads. All this for
yard of trimmingl
How often would the lady wear such
gown" asked
Five or six times
And then what becomes Of it?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "She
gives il away or sells 1t. There is one
very rich woman who has all her old
gowns burned. She can't bear the idea
that any one else should wear them.