The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-02-27
BURN THEIR DRESSES
RICH WOMEN THROW CAsT-oFF
GOWNS INTO THE FURNACE.
Thousands of Dollars Worth Of Fash
ionable Apparel rs Thus De-
stroyed Before It Is Half
Worn Out.


Cleveland Moffett, in the first OF a
series Of articles on The Shameful Mis-
use Of Wealth" in Success Magazine for
February, has this to say regarding the
costly gowns worn by the rich women
Of Newport:
This brings me to an interesting tax
that l had with man at the head OF
one of the largest dressmaking estaD-
Iishments in the world, with branches
| In London. Paris, New York and, nat
urally, Newport We were standing
near the Casino at the fashionable hour.
It was the height Of the season, and
beautifully gowned women were arriv-
ing every moment for the music and
tennis. There they we're before us In
gay and conspicuous groups, the much
talked Of and envied society leaders,
dressed to be looked at and admired.
And admiring, as befitted, we proceeded
to discuss them, my companion speaking
with the authority of creator and dis
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 personal
taste. They dress too much alike"
That's your affair isn't it?" sug-
gested.
We'll" he said, I'VE do the best we
can. OF course. what you lack in this
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 to
shine in Newport for her gowns.
Ten thousand dollars year." he
answered, promptly. I'VE have clients
who spend twelve thousand year, but
ten is enough. We have many who
spend seven thousand year If avon
an spends only FIVE thousand a year we
DO not take her very seriously"
"You mean five thousand for gowns
alone?"
"Of course" And was left to imag-
inc what might be the ladies' bill for
hats. boots, lingerie, etc, not to forget
the sinuous automobile wells that we're
futtering all about US.
"How many new gowns does a smart
woman need for the Newport season."
inquired
He thought a moment Counting
everything, about twenty"
And how much win 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 five
hundred dollars"
| protested that had heard Of first
class gowns for less than that, but he
shook his head
I'VE sell gowns for two hundred and
fifty dollars and make more profit on
them than on those that cost five hum
dred but no ambitious society woman
would think OF appearing, say at an i'm
portant dinner. in a two hundred and
fifty dollar gown. It would injure her
prestige
Then he gave me some interesting
details in the making Of a five hundred
dollar gown. It 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 or
must first be embroidered In
silk with the finest stitches. Then it
must be gone over again in tiny trans
parent beads Of different colors, perhaps
in rhinestones. and finally the veins and
stems Of the leaves must be added one
by one in colored threads All this for
B yard of trimmingl
How often would the lady wear such
} gown?" I asked.
Five or six times"
And then what becomes Of it2
He shrugged his shoulders. ~She
gives it away or sells it. There is one
very rich woman who has all heg old
gowns burned She can't bear the idea
that any one else should wear them"