MADAME PAQUIN AT WORK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 473, 3 April 1909, Page 10

MADAME PAQUIN AT WORK.

Madams Paquin, tho famous Parisian dressmaker, has been confiding to a reviewer the secret of "how'l create a new toilette." In Madame Paquin's view, the process is closely analogous to that of artistic creation, and most closely resoiubles that of tho sculptor. The prime essential is that the "lines" should be mht. I remember the samo truth being phrased less elegantly, but more vigorously. "Make your gown out of a duster, or a dog's towel, only take care who, cuts it." According to Madame Paquin, tho ideal plan is to sketch, as it were, on the particular woman who has to bo dressed, 'using soft materials which adapt themselves easily 'to the contour. But, continues Madame Paquin, we aro compelled every season to create a number of now models, in order to satisfy tho longing for change which overy woman has in her. We study books on costumes, old plates, and pay lengthy j visits to" museums and picture galleries." ihen there is foreign travel. "Once-1 re-' turned from a trip to Egypt with tho conception 'of a costume, 'caftan' shaped I introduced that model'and it becamo 'tho rage. What had sugguested it to me was' simply a combination of the peculiar apron of the fellah, and tho folds of that simple tunic universally worn by the Egyptian peasant-woman. The-coat collar of an Austrian officer and the green smock of a German railway-, porter suggested other innovations which proved equally popular. ' The idea occurs, it is adapted, and is tried on evolved ™ anneqUmS '' a now moJel is

- After these high-sounding phrases as to the artistic genius of a twentieth-century f o,vn ; } almost hesitate to.give the lolioiy\"S details as to tlio ecnomic.'.sido of IDI- 1 dame I'aquin's business. Tho figures, however, though' prosaic, are not .uninteresting. In one year tlio firm um 3 15,000 yards of cloth, 60,000 yards of satin,' Velvet, chiffon '! n 1 « f lining! and 00.000 yards of mousseline-de-soie. Of silk thread, no less than 26,-100,000 vards Of.pins, million pins. Of 'hooks and eyes, '001b. Some of Madame Paquin's lady sellers earn from £1000 to £2000 It can bo no easy task to run the business of a modern couturierc. Tho nearest thing seems to be equipping, an army corps.