The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-10

II OAu S1ONtS 70 pedulllui gowns. II
has more than 10000 women who are
engaged on parts Of ladies' dresses,
in contradistinction to the completed
costumes, and they turn out prod
uct worth about $10,00O,000 a year.
1t has thousands working on corsets.
not only for Paris but for all parts
of France and for shipment abroad.
1t has 5000 furniture shops, each EN-
ploying three or four hands. The
furniture does not compare in dura-
bility with ours, made by machinery;
but it is exquisitely carved and a
great deal is gilded. There are 1000
shops here making watches to the
value of s5,O00,0oO per annum; and
other thousands making articles de
Paris, which means notions and
fancy goods of all sorts, including
jewelry. artificial flowers and dainty
bits of leather, horn, bone and ivory
In fact. the French are producing
almost anything one can imagine,
and they make everything WELL
Fine Gowns For America
One of the big industries of Paris
is in supplying millinery and gowns
for the rich of the fashionable world
Just now the best market is the Unit
Gu SNdiCSs anu CIV cry american W CID
an who passes through carries he me
Partisan frocks and hats. Those who
have several should watch out for
the customs. According to our tariff
laws no person can bring into the
United States more than 500 worth
of new clothes without paying duty.
The inspectors examine ones bag
gage, and there is no way Of avoid
ing the tax without lying. 1t costs
$500 or more. to get even n wooden
gown made by one of the best Paris
dressmakers. and costumes of Velvet
or silk range from $500 upwards.
Lower prices may be put on the bills
which the tourists take home, but
our customs officers are watchfuI
and such frauds are often detected.
Smuggling today is more difficult
than it was in the past. 1t used to
be that thousands of rich Americans
came to Paris once a year to re-
plenish their wardrobes; and the
weather often went back with eight
or ten trunks filled with dresses.
Many would not even wear the
dresses before sailing, and others
would put on half dozen different
frocks in a day, discarding each in a
few minutes in order to declare that
labels into their gowns and had other
schemes to make the new things look
old.
1t was the same with some of the
New York dressmakers who brought
in gowns without paying duty and
with the Paris modistes who took
orders for future delivery and had the
dresses carried home by American
friends. This wholesale cheating has
practically stopped. although many
things still escape the customs, and
most tourists carry home with them
two or three new gowns and hats.
How the French Sell Their Dresses
Paris sets the fashions for all the
world Most OF our large stores send
their buyers for gowns. hats and
other Paris specialties. to be sold the
next season. Such buyers will take
home only one dress or hat of a
kind to show in the windows. ana
then take orders for copies. Such ar
ticles are called models. and making
them is a regular business. They are
designed by the great artists in the
famous ressmaking houses, and such
houses have exhibitions to which the
American buyers are invited by card.
These occasions are quite ceremonial,
and beautiful women, employed for
the purpose, walk back and forth
wearing the gowns while the buyers
pick out such as they think will APP
peal TO the American market One
famous dressmaker this year showed
his creations at a supper given in
a beautiful garden. the mannequins
walking about among the tables
Later there are exhibitions of the
same model for individual pur-
cbasers. and copies are subject to sale
or export by the establishment in
which they originate.
How to Get Paris Gown Cheap
One can pay almost anything she
pleases for fine gown in Paris.
The great dress makers are artists,
and they charge for their Specialized
skill. The Urinary Frenchwoman.
however, does not patronize chem,
nor does she set her foot on the Rue
de Ia Prix except to 90 window