The Washington times., 1938-09-23
THE TROUSSEAU
TDA WAS pleased that the

gave Oub d uOLCu VI IuC SGOI0 .
small white cards, with her
name and 'Misses' Better
Dresses" scrawled on them in
pencil, always hoping that the
customer would come back and
ask for her. That was the way
a following was built.
Eda followed the floorwalker
across the showroom over to the
upholstered love seat where the
customer was waiting. At first
glance she didn't recognize the
woman.
But, nevertheless, she smiled
pleasantly and said: "Oh. how dc
you do? Glad to see you again
And what can I show you today?'
The customer answered: 81 want
tc see some dresses"
Daytime, afternoon, or eve
ning?" Eda asked.
"Al of them" the woman re
Piled. He voice was rather flat
and indifferent.
Eda looked her over apprals
ingly.
PRICE NO OBJECT
IT sold you a navy chiffon din
ner dress last May, didn't I? Size
18, wasn't it? Eighty-nine fifty
Did you enjoy wearing it? II
looked so we'll on you. Your hus
band, I recall, admired it very
much"
The woman WINGED as though
someone had jabbed pin into
her. Usually, customers were de.
lighted when Edna remembered
what they had bought. But this
one seemed quite upset.
I'm not quite sure what ]
need" she said at last :. 'I know
I'll want several things. I thought
possibly you could advise me ~
She smiled wryly: Its a sort OF
trousSeau I'm buying"
"Our new fall line is lovely. II
madam wishes to go into a dress.
ing room, I can bring in a selec.
ton"
The customer put down her
handbag, took off her hat and sat
down heavily on a cane chair. Eda
nodded approvingly. "You just
rest" she said. "I'll bring you
some very nice things. Any spe-
cial price ranger"
The woman shrugged her
shoulders. TT doesn't matter" "
she said.
That was a relief. When they
came in alone, usually they looked
at cheaper things. That other
time, Eda recalled, the husband
had actually insisted that she buy
the eisEty-nine fifty. She was all
ready tc take a beige lace at
thirty.nine.
ANY special color9 Black or
navy?"
WANTS BRIGHT STUFF
'Black or navy?" the woman
repeated duly. BLACK or navy
Then she seemed to shake herself
and she practically screamed
mo. Positively not. No black or
navy. Green, red, turquoise
orange. Anything but black or
navy. Bright things. Gay
things"
Eda ventured a faint remon.
STRANGE: 'The dark colors make
you look simmer"
II am fat?" she said. Her in
Election made it query.
IT wouldn't say that" Eda
hedged. "Just nicely plump"
The customer was staring at
Eda now, staring at her and
through her, with the queerest
sort Of a rigid smile Eda
floundered: "Ill bring some very
nice things in," she stammered.
A fat woman with red hair ask
ing for red, green and orange.
And the dramatic way she asked
for it. The new blacks would be
90 flattering. But show the Gus
toners what they want. The dark
red Chanel might do in pinch.
And that forest green after Patou.
The woman had taken off her
skirt and blouse by the time Eda
came back, and she was standing
before the mirror tucking in loose
ends of her hair. Her low-cut
pink slip revealed the little humps
of fat under her shoulder blades,
the outlines of maternal bosom,
and heavy thighs.
A definitely matronly figure,
sturdy, strong and chunky-like
a tree. She started when Eda
came in, and blushed: I'm a lit
tie old-fashioned," she said. "1've
never quite gotten used to un-
dressing before strangers"
''BROADWAY FLOOR SHOW"
"Oh, don't mind me-" Eda hung
up the load of dresses she carried.
''We're accustomed to all kinds OF
things. If you'd see some of the
things that we see in here. Some
women have no sense of shame.
Come in to buy dresses with moth
ing on underneath but a bras and
a G-string. It's like Broadway
floor show sometimes"
Why cid that woman vince
again? Every time I open my
mouth put my foot in it," Eda
thought. She held up the dark
red dress. Nov this Chanel u
she began, "is one of our loveliest
things. There's enough brown in
the red for it to go well with your