THE PARIS MAN- DRESSMAKER ON DRESSMAKING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5414, 3 August 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE PARIS MAN- DRESSMAKER ON DRESSMAKING.

An English newspaper gives 'the following interesting particulars of Worth, the celebrated dressmaker ;

Worth is a tallish man, with big, clover, head and very prominent forehead. Ilia brown eyes are singularly shrewd in expression, and their seizure of detail is surprising—that is, for a man. As a rule, men have no more eye for detail than owls have for the sun. Worth takes you iu at a glance and knows what your style ought to bo, such a comfort. When I go to a dressmaker I don’t care to “ work I'ny passage,” as Bob would say. I want to order a harmony in ono or two colors, and so encounter brains etpial to the occasion. Worth's taste, when allowed full piny, is irreproachable. “I prefer simplicity to anything else," he says, “ but, there aro women who dout believe iu the value of dress unless it is loaded with trimming. They drive me mad, for they won’t take advice. New, what is hocoming to ono person is hideous when worn hy another. I study to make the best out of tho subject given mo, as unfortunately, wo can’t have people made to order, can we ? If I iiad my way all women should be slight, graceful,

and pretty. Then dressing th&n would be an artistic pleasure. A dress should never overpower the wearer. It should merely.bo an appropriate frame for a charming picture, but never distracting attention from it. Few women understand this. Why, when .1 find I can make a costume for less money than has been agreed upon, X actually annoy clients by telling them so. They think it cannot be as handsome as it ought to be, and they would rather have more material added, however much may tho Resign be marred, than pay less. I nssureyouthisisafacb. Consequently, when I meet ladies who know that dressing is an art, I take very great satisfaction in having them as patrons. “ It isn’t every woman who knows how to wear a dress. When I have done my best I try to make my client do her best by seeing her walk and sit down. To walk with style is rare enough, but when it comes to being able to ait down in a dress properly—well there are not many equal to that, I can tell you. Then, women think that they ought to have a number of dresses, however hideous, rather than wear one dress, however becoming. There never was a greater mistake. If your frame is appropriate stick to it. Don’t be getting out*of it and trying experiments. I have just made a dress for Madame Nilsson, in ■which she looks better than I ever saw her before, and I have begged her to wear that dress constantly in Russia if she wants to produce a most charming effect. As she is sensible, I think she will take my advice, which, you perceive, is against my interest ; but good gracious me 1 money is not ray only object. Art is intended to beautify nature, not to deform it."