The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-08-26
PARIS IS THE WORLDS CENTER OF FASHION,
Where MuItitudes oil
Women Go TO Buv
Gowns.

PARIS-UntlI the sudden popularity
of the automobile brought so much
prosperity to France, the country S
greatest source of revenue was the
fame of it's dressmakers. Every year
more than 100000 ladies come to Paris
from all parts of the world to buy their
gowns. 1t is said that there are fully
10000 American women who import all
their dresses from Paris. And there are
many thousands more whose purchases
are confined to occasional garments be-
cause their purses are too small to war
rant their buying everything they need
from foreign dealers.
To fix the styles for the women of
the world is a most profitable avoca-
ton as shown by the enormous bust
ness transacted by the leading firms
in Paris. Some of them are housed
in historic palaces amid surroundings
that are simply palatial. The equip
ment of these establishments include
dark ROOM where models attired in
gorgeous costumes walk about on q
raised platform under a brilliant light,
so that the prospective customer can
see the full eeCt under the same con-
ditions that exist in the ball room.
Others who cater to the theatrical trade
have miniature stage appointed with
the same light effect used in regular
performances so that the actress may
select her gowns with absolute GER
tainty of the. result to be Obtained
A PROFITABLE AvOCATION.
Last year one of the most successful
caterers to feminine vanity was alb e
to buy. with his seasons profit, sew
eral squares of the most valuable prop
erty in the city of Paris. Another one
is credited with having spent $4,000 in
entertain ming a party of friends for one
day. All of the noted ones have such
princely incomes that they own sea-
side villas, racing automobiles. CODED
horses, and frequent the SWEETEST clubs.
The saleswomen in the great dress
making establishments of Paris are
claimed to be the shrewdest business
women in the world. One writer has
aptly said that one of them could easily
sell a $4,000 sable coat to the savage
owner of a hut on the equator, pro-
.vided she knew that the savage would
be good for the $4,000. In her daily
work the saleswoman is required to
practice judgment and diplomacy. She
must endeavor to focus the interest OF
those customers who can pay on the
most expensive gowns. Again she must
practice care in not allowing pur-
chaser of ordinary means to become
fascinated with a dress that is beyond
the limitations of her purse.
She must be an accomplished judge
of human nature. because one moment
she will be dealing with a member of
the aristocracy and the next with some
soiled dove from the quarter frequented
by the demimonde. The Paris dress
makers have no scrupleS about whom
they serve, and all corners are treated
with extreme courtesy and consfdera-
ton so long as it is certain they can
pay their bills. The saleswoman sizes
up her customer in a flash and pro-
ceeds to wheedle, fatter and cajole
as much as the case seems to warrant.
AS rule the saleswomen work upon .
and the best of them are
said to earn from $4,000 to $4,000
year for themselves, while they are I
bringing hundreds of thousands of dol
lars to their firms.
HOW THE MODELS WORK. 1
The work of the saleswoman is as /;
sisted by mannequins, or models, who
wear the gowns in order to show them
off to advantage. During working
skirts and waists SO that they can ;
make changes readily. and in the course
Of a day one Of these gi.1s win wear Z
dozens of dresses. When not engaged )
With customers thy loiter ab1ut the :
salesroom in groups, attirei in all Z
kinds of rare gowns, which they carry
is easily as the grandest danes IN the :
empire. :
When the models arrive at the estab-
ishments in the morning there is moth :
ne about them to distinguish them :
rom the average Paris working girl, ,
,ut a little later wnen they appear In :.
he salesroom perfectly corseted, nails
arefully manicured hair dressed by n
professional coiffeur, complexion, d
YES and brows made up as carefully h
s actresses ready for a performance. il
nd attired in fine slippers and the cost Il
lest of r.*s5uert, they are so queenly W
n their bearing that it is difficult to a
them from TIE stateliest W
aides of the realm. There are many e.
tories about the romances of these te
iris They frequently make wealthy is
Marriages. or find important places on pl
he stage One of them became lady fe
l-waiting to Queen Victoria. CT