HIGH COST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1939, Page 10

HIGH COST

DRESSING A SCREEN QUEEN. The high cost of dressing in a modern age was brought home to Hollywood in forceful manner when Bridgehouse, noted as a designer and costume expert, started the task of creating the gowns being worn by Joan Bennett in “The Man in the Iron Mask,” a new Edward Small picture. Joan plays the role of Maria Theresa, beautiful Infanta of Spain, who became the bride of King Louis XIV and Queen of France in the most carefree and spendthrift era of what was even then a doomed court life. From ancient books, etchings and sketches unearthed by producer Small's research department, Bridgehouse found the exact pattern of dresses worn by Maria Theresa and from the text of those same books an accurate description of materials, colours and accessories. Bridgehouse discovered how the dresses were designed and manufactured and revealed that in present day money standards they cost from £l9 to £3O each, despite the fact that cloth was all handmade and the task of assembling the clothes was much more laborious than under modern methods. But when Bridgehouse had the same gowns made for Joan Bennett the cost ranged from £lOO to £2OO each, depending upon quality of goods, design and accessories. While it took expert dressmakers from two to three months to handmake Maria Theresa's gowns, the same clothes were turned out by modern artisans in from ten days to two weeks.