New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-31
ARE SHAPES DOOMED?

II THE makers Of clothing store dummies
are painting exaggerated smirks of self
M satisfaction on the feminine presentments
that come under their hands these days
it is because of the rumor that the living model
must go from the New York costume ateliers,
It may be that such smirks will prove to be
premature, for the living model has been a
necessity in most of New Yorks wholesale
cloak and suit houses these many years. Fur
thermore, the living model is resourceful
person, who knows how to wrap herself in
fnery is a way that no insensate dummy can
hope to initiate Consequently, she is not fear
ing for her job, let the dummy business thrive
as it will.
But the ugly rumor persists.
Furthermore, it is backed by the statements
of some wholesale merchants who say they are
not hiring living models any more, but are
doing all their displaying of garments on lay
figures.
Others say they have heard rumors of the
eclipse of the Perfect Thirty-six, but, as far
as they are concerned, they are hiring more
of those paragons than ever and any girl with
the requisite lines and experience and style
need not be afraid of being out of employ
ment, especially after August /, when the fall
buying will be in full swing
At which the Perfect Thirty-six losses her
head, just like Carmen, and huns song that
means Indifference.
AS matter of fact there are some whole
sale clothing institutions in New York City
where the Perfect Thirty-six has never made
her presence felt, except, perhaps, as stenog-
rapher or bookkeeper or telephone operator.
There IS one place on a Broadway corner,
down In the Tearing Twenties, where the
passerby can one of these institutions
where the dummy reigns supreme. Dummies
arc in all the windows. Waists and suit Jack
cts are constantly being thrown over their
shoulders, while buyers look on appraisingly.
This House of Dummies is one of the larg-
est and busiest of New York's wholesale con-
Germs; but it sells nothing but clothing of a
cheap class. 1t is explained that dummies
will suffice in displaying goods of such sort
Hiring living models would mean more ex-
pense which would have to be assessed against
the sales When firm is trying to live up to
its motto of quick sales and small profits it
is an anomaly to confront customer with
living models who draw better salaries than
show girls in musical comedy. Such thing
wouldn't do at all--not at all. The buyers
would be Mortified at the thought of such ex-
travagance and would Immediately hunt up
some wholesaler who had only dummies for
display purposes-and rather shopworn and
ancient dummies at that.
But such places, with their rows af papier-
mache models, bring no fears to the heart of
the Perfect Thrty-six. Here is the other side
of the picture, upon which she bids one gaze:
Scene: Display room in wholesale house
where higher-prced goods are shown. A cues
toner from the press, in earnest conversation
with the proprietor.
QUESTIONER: Then you are hiring more
models of the living, breathing, human sort
than ever?
PROPRIETOR: Absolutely. Of course,
buying conditions are not as they used to be-
Right now things are dull In former years
the season would be in full swing, but not