SHOPPING DE LUXE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 91, 26 July 1910, Page 2

SHOPPING DE LUXE.

HOW LUCTLE HYPNOTISES THE FOUR HUNDRED. [ The primitive New Zea'l«;nder who is | accustomed to plank her money oi: a: counter while the parcel is being wrapped up would think she had struck some sort of .opium dream with pantomime I . transformation scene trimmings if she . walked into the New York dressmaking i establishment of Lady Duff-Gordon, professionally known as "Lucile," for half a yard of sevenpenny lace or a flannnelette blouse length. This is how the New York American describes the way tnak Lucile gets in her fine work with tlii "Nicest." : ! ; i The stage is erected "in the front of the great room." The stage is flanked with Corinthian pillars. A pair of pate ■blue cashmere curtains drape it front anl back. The showroom is darkened, anl the customer- rests herself pleasantly and inhales the odor of burning incense. In a few minutes the curtain draperies, at the back of the stage part, and -'a tall English manneqiun glides out behind the footlights. Her gown is an elusive combination of tints —soft, un- 1 dulating and clinging. A diadem of pearls or sapphires crowns her raven hair, dressed in the latest mode, to illustrate the correct combination of jewes. She be a woman of fashion about' to start for the opeftii ... . " ' After a while the iriodei deseeds from the stage to tilt; showroom itself. 1m- I mediately a myriad crystalline transform the room into brightness. Then the lady views the costume at eiose range, comments upon it, enquires the price, and is ready for the next. I The next is a blonde American girl, who has been taught for days to walk with a book on her head, so that her walk shall not in any way interrupt the soothing atmosphere or ruffle the customer's spirits. At llv.' close nf the se:'nce the enchantH. not. to sav hvpnotised. client goes into Lfllv Duff-Gordon's private clesisuery, where Lucile sketches her ideas. 'There Lucile studies her subjects as care fully as ever artist- studies a subject, for a jiorfrait. and design* the kind of .sown Unit she thinks best interprets Miss or Madame.