The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1911-04-13
CITY WOMAN
Lady Of the Robes Is Title Of In
genious Worker.
elmpIy Advises and Helps Rearranss
Wardrobes Of Rich and Poor-rhose
Who Must Economic Work Her
Wits Hardest.

Chicago.-"You say you want to
make money? I'd pay you veil to
come and look over my wardrobe and
advise me how to freshen It up and
what to get. You've 90 many clever
good ideas about dress and such ideas
don't come naturally to me-"
That's how my business started"
explains a young woman who sudden
ly found herself in reduced circun-
stances. "The friend who gave me my
first Job was so enthusiastic over the
help that I was to her that she talked
me up to other women. They lksd;
what I did for them and passed my.
name on to still others. So the bail
kept on rolling. and now I've Q regular
clientele Of women whose wardrobes
I manage.
II don't know yet quite what. to call
myself. Ladyof the Robes my friends
call me, but Of course I've got to set
a more businesslike name than that
for my calling. The fact Of tho mat
ter IL that most women do not under
stand how to manage their wardrobe
and I am able to help them.
when my patrons have plenty Of
money my task IL not difacult. I look
over the clothes that they have. talk
With them about their plans for the
coming season and tell them exactly
what they need. I suggest the styles
that I think will be becoming and
the styles that I think 1t would be
wiser for them to avoid.
II have to find out the p~eouliarities
Of each Of my patrons and deal with
them. Each patron is an individual
study. l always put myself in the
woman's place-try to become that
woman. and considering her appear
ance. her p%ocketbook and her walk In.
life, advise her Just what I should
wish for myself were I she.
I'm some instances I have to use =
lot Of patience and tact, but in most
I have no trouble at all, because tho
women are glad to have me help them.
My deep interest, which fortunately
is not assumed for trades sake.
pleases and. fatters them. They've
confidence that I've taken their ihtsr-
est to heart.
1T is with the women who have to
economist that I have to work my vita
the hardest. My own experiences IN.
economy help me here. It 10 these
women who depend upon me most.
They say that the money that they
pay me for my pains IL the best IN
roatroan$ That %ho~ vnaN~
Zone such woman when I went to
her for my first visit was In despair
Accustomed to spend money a. she
pleased. she had suddenly had hen,
dress allowance cut down. I begged
her not to spend another cent until we'
had investigated all the clothes that:
she had. and not only all the clothes
but all her boxes Of ribbons, aztiaoial'
flowers, pieces Of satin, velvet. lace
etc.
"she had everything spread before
me. I found out exactly what she
wanted to do through the summer and
then I looked over all her things'
with an eye that she could not have!
for them. because she was too tamil
lar with them and too discouraged
over them.
II stayed in the room all afternoon.
and came back the next day for anoth.
er long seance with her things. Thsn,
I went home and wrote out my scheme
for her wardrobe. I took It to her the
next day. I. shall never forget her
little cries Of pleasure and relief.
Many Of the clothes with Just the:
right refreshing touch here and there,
could be made as up-to-date visions.
Of beauty as they were when they
were bought. I explained to her Just
when money must be spent at all. I,
showed her where the seamstrsss
could help and the little dressmaker,'
also the little milliner.' and just whsre
she would have to resort to more oom.
petent help. She agreed to all I said,
and In her new courage thought Of
many clever ideas herself. I watched
over the growth Of that summer ward.
eoho NTH al thu n1lNo ~ ~ o,xl.A. "a