Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03

the closing nour, Wnereup0n they slip INTO JneE
own dresseS-generally oddS-and-endS picked up
at bargain sales at the end Of a season, at
which time their particular place Of employ
ment allows them first choice and special dis
count.
Some hop eievateds and some join the MOLE
like mob burrowing down into the subways. A
few take taxicabs. In few moments the city
has swallowed this array of carefully selected
loneliness.
who are they2 Where did they come fromP
Where do they go? What goes on behind the
curtain Of their lives?
Let's begin with few statistics:
The four corners Of the earth are represented
in the Fifth avenue salons, but the majority
OF mannequins are from the small towns OF
America.
graceful than the Broadway beauties. Their
selection is, in the better places, q far more
meticulous business than the choice of q
chorus.
The chief requirements are: good taste, good
manners pleasant personality, the instincts Of
"a lady, and the capacity to appear and act
like one. Form, grace, htheness, sinuousnesss
the ability to acquire "the models walk: q
sense of display value and a body that lends
itself to the draping clothes.
There are many, many other subtle require
mentS but those are outstanding demands.
Pay for this work varies from $50 q week to
about three times as much. This depends ON
length of service and the impressions made
upon prospective buyers. mannequin who
can make clothes so aluring that even stout
lady from Detroit is intrigued into making
purchase secures good commission.
Fl Fl
THE number of models varies. One excIu>
sive shop. which Is particularly careful In
such matters, uses 90 girls-more than IN
average chorus Of Broadway revue.
A considerable number are young women Of
education and fine background. Many are
from wealthy families Within the past two
seasons it has ceased to be unusual for girls
in the sub-deb and debutante class to take
temporary and permanent positions In the
smarter places. They know clothes and know
how to wear them.
In three establishments it was found that
out of 10 models were college girls who had
been unable to secure employment once the
school doors had closed behind them. Three
more out of every 10 were married and went
home to their husbands when the days work
mad ended.
All of which appears to puncture the old
notions concerning models and their alleged
unconventionality. Out of 100 models corsid-
cred, but had been on the stage and at least
SO per cent had been offered stage opportuni-
ties at bigger money, but had turned the offers
down.
And few of the sugar papa weddings of the
Broadway variety are reported from the Fifth
avenue shops. To be sure, few men enter these
sanctunls, and on such occasions as they do
they are already accompanied by a wife or
girl friend" or they are there in connection
with business.
Il
SSMY own experience has been that girls with
small-town backgrounds whether these
towns be in America or Europe-are in the mas
Jority and make the best clothes models" says
Edwin Goodman Of Berdorf & Goodman. which
employs particularly large number OF names
gums.
The reasons for this are many To begin
with, the girl from average family in an
average town has certain occurrences, O GER
tain simplicity and righteousness which is in4
valuable In the mannequn profession"
Copyright, 1920 a