The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-04

of Chicago viewed the beautiful gowns
and obtained useful suggestions from
them. The second year there were 1000,
and after that Nine. Baker could not
accommodate them in her parlors, but
herself went to the Offices of the manu-
featuring firm and displayed her wares.
OF course this was done by the firm to
advertise and sell their American made
Innings and other goods in opposition to
those imported from Paris. But the
scheme occupied much of Nine Bakers
time, and finally one day her husband
said:
"Why don't you start an organization
for dressmal1ers %
So the present National Dressmakers'
association, with its membership of
5000 from all parts of the country, its
annual conventions and competitive
display of original designs, its lessons
in cutting and fitting - above all, its
fostering of a strong feeling of sister
hood among persons engaged in one Of
the hardest working trades known to
womankind-took its rise in the brain
of a man.
Nine. Baker is president of the asso-
citation. Her headquarters are now in
New York. where she also publishes a
periodical for dressmakers. which she
started some years ago. Her husband
is its business manager.
Nine. Baker says that some American
designers of costumes are as good as
any in Paris, which shows the artistic
talent in our country, and that not only
in the great cities. for the gown which
obtained the $1,000 prize at the recent
convention was designed at Wilkesbarre
by one OF Just the class of costumers
the association was formed to aid, the
dressmakers of the smaller cities and
towns, those with no leisure and little
opportunity to get away from the eter-
nal click. click of their machines.
Nearest and dearest to the heart of
its founder is this association. Just
now she thinks some resourceful cos
tuner ought to design a successful
dress for business women, whose num-
bers are increasing so rapidly She
! pronounces against the wearing OF os-
trich plunes. friIls, furbelows and party
rigs in general to and from ones daily
office and shop duties. The business
wonan's dress, she considers, should be
neat and trinl-above alt convenient,
but entirely unobtrusive, like the COS
| tunes the most fashionable millionaire
| ladies of New York society wear upon
the street Women worth millions can
give a valuable lesson to the working
girl in the matter of quiet dressing for
the street and for business.
Another mistake Nine. Baker finds
| some American women make is to ride
in street cars arrayed in costumes that
should be worn only by carriage wom-
en-. Dress of any kind calculated to at
| tract attention should be hidden from
the eye of the street public. She hopes
! all women will learn to observe this
| general rule.
Nine. Baker deplores, too. the dismal
! terribly gloomy black mourning in
which many women shroud themselves.
/ Tt suggests death and the grave wher-
ever its wearer appears. Fortunately
/ fashion now permits much white and
gray to be worn with mourning dress
A national school Of dressmaking is
one of Nine. Bakers hopes and aims
It viii be a school where through years
of patient, most careful work and effort
American would be costumers may
learn their trade in the only way that
/ will ever enable them to compete with
those of Paris.
LUCY MAY IRWIN.