Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-18
Tuesday, December 10, 1906.
Oressmaking in America.

Mrs. Stuysevant Fish, the New
York society leader who has long been
Eu"~n az one of the best dressed
WprItn in America, has recently re-
rur:yd from Paris, and is very ou,
spoken in her opinion that the styles
in this country arc superior to those
Of tie French capital. She says that
the IDEA that American women should
60 10 Paris for their gowns is an
;,bStird one. In fact. she pronounces it
"tOmmy:ot." She asserts that cloth
ing can be procured right in New Fork
that is quite as pretty and vastly
cheaper than any that can be bough.
in Paris, and she adds that the old
idea that prevailed with some wealthy
American women that they must nave
everything with the French label on it
if they would be we'll dressed is out
of date Here in America we have
every. facility for having our clothes
Inade.HS they are in Paris. Our dress
Hlal;cfS are Just as up-tO-date; they
have the same materials to select from
they have Il really greater desire To
please. for where the French dress
maker makes 4 dress or a dozen
dresses for Il woman perhaps in one
season he is noC at all sure that she
will be over and patrOnizc him again
the next year. and then the American
dressmaker has far greater under
standing and Intelligence about SUCH
E.,r no K r,
Why. do you know. | have often had
Ia show Il French drcSSnlaker how To
pin Il gown together to get the right
effect: they don't comprehend Il grcat
many things about Il gown that are
second nature to an American dress
maker.
We are like lot ri sheep; iWc have
followed the leader for 80 long that
this Paris clothes habit is second na
ture to us and women have long
ceased 10 think that American clothes
can he rs good as those bought in
France. All they need is Il good shak-
ing M, nf some kind. and if l can F"lI
IN the shaking. all the better.
Mrs Fish Also declares that the cyr
tent to which American women have
gone 10 Paris in the ruIr!Ia-" of tn ii
clothing has had ttla result OF Girin"
the nltil IS Of that cit. 4 N'rE crron-
cous :u,l he.i In 81 :r:iiI Of he in
stitu,inns and cnnlI.r.i.;l advantages
Of this tounlry. Il W.i=.," .h" sad
lonkin:: over S,,i!ir Things iii onr of the
big establishments. uTrr thc:" and the
wnnan who was waiting upon me
&aid:-'i supI,::,. i * :. Great IL yo.
Americans 10 So, our %lrr:;' ynu have
not very good Ones in New York. they
tell E,c.'
lrnAel IT h"r :maZ"A. ANA sh,
lookr.. very .uu, Il lris,d when
slil:--
Why. car shops arc very micl
finer tinm the ones here. anl We ca,
get anything rhcIt' that you have here
and more
Sh, took il - 4 joke. but I convince
hn brfnr, was through that l Wa
very much in earnest"
II i certainly refreshing to see ;
Soci, Is header Of the prominence "
Mrs. FISH takin. this stand. In III
manufacture Of clothing. in the devci
opmcnt Of material &tylc. and ii
America unqucsticnahly leads til
world ii The present day. This fac
is brcnMine more and more recognize
in foreign countries. outsid" of Franc
and il is about time that our own pc"
pie wal, IA! 1" it. The day is coming
indeed i il near at hand. when tn
French .t:.Gr nr"rk on an art'cl" Q
clothing viii no longer ho q sign :
coniurr wiki 81 far rs the America
pHhir is ,":ir' rncd.