New Britain herald., 1922-07-14
COST OF CLOTHES
 LOWER FOR GIRLS
Ambitious Ones Make Their Own
 Garments Cheaply

Washington. July 14.--uncle Sam. department of agriculture does work of many interesting sorts, It's ramifica- tions extend in divers directiosn, moi solely included under the subject ot agriculture, and one of the most help full of these is aiding In the subjuga- ton of the still high cost of clothing A recent publication of the depart ment declares that the business girl, with a reasonable amount of zeal and talent, can use part of her spare time to such effect tat she can cut in half her clothes bill.
 In the first place, says the circular, 1t must be granted that the important way to reduce costs is to eliminate as far as possible the items of labor and distribution. Tn other words. the busi- ness girl should make her own cloth ing otherwise, unless she's a wizard at nosing out bargains, she stands lit- tie chance of reducing her clothing budget.
 The business girl may claim, says Uncle Eam that she has not the time or energy left after strenuous days work but skilled sewer who enjoys sewing as an interesting and profit able change of occupation can all ways find time and energy In this connection, the department cites the case of a girl in a government de- partment who, with the aid of the cir culars and extension work of the agri- culture department. was very success full in keeping her wardrobe supplied at comparatively low cost, onehalf in fact what the same clothing would have cost ready made.
 To begin with. she got a department circular telling how to make a dress form by pasting layers of gummed bundle wrapping paper over a tightly fitting vest on herself as model. When the paper casing was cut and fastened together, she had light, stiff and perfect reproduction of her form. So it was not necessary to pur- chase store figure.
 The girl reported that her latest wardrobe cost her only $10S for cloth ling conservatively estimated to be worth s210 at store prices. With the
 
 S24.61 a tan broadcloth winter coat with good lining. such as she saw priced at $50 in the shops. A blue vole dress with slip, cost, including trimming. s11.09. A tissue gingham dress, with organdie for trimming and also hemstitching, cost s6.33 with scraps and a remnant she made another gingham dress for exactly 45 Icents.
 For s16 she bought materials to make pussy willow taffeta and georgette crepe dress for social oc- casions, which, she said, she could not duplicate in quality at a store for less than s35. Her business dress of serge and crepe de chine would have been priced at $40 or more If made of the good fabrics she bought for s1S.S9 Her evening dress, also, of taffeta and silver lace, cost only s21, although it was modelled after one seen at shop at a much higher price.
 This wardrobe, augmented by two dresses for which materials were bought brought tho total up to s10S.34, is not elaborate though suffi- cient for the needs of the wearer, 1t was said, and. having a variety of clothing she was able to attend many social functions she otherwise would not have.
 Without the dress form, the girl re- ported 1t was doubtful if she could have duplicated her achievement in the time at her disposal but she not only had time left over for other ac- tivities, but also to make ten such forms for other girls and to hold classes to teach many others.