Holy cow! I'm too short for them, but models are usually taller. I have the right bust and hips, but no way is my waist that tiny - and when it was many years ago the rest of me was also much tinier. Ay yi yi!
Karen On Fri, 30 May 2008 20:51:16 -0400 "Penny Ladnier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I was typing the history of the coat & cloak industry >from 1894. The following were the requirements for a >model in 1894 from the book, Cole's Dictionary of Dry >Goods. I thought it was funny when comparing model >requirements for today. So could you be a model in 1894? > > "One of the most important if not the most responsible >positions in a cloak factory is that of the model, or >"figure," and upon securing good ones depends the >prosperity of the establishment. The fact that women for >the position of models are paid from $12 to $18 per week >for comparatively easy work is an indication that they >cannot be had in great numbers. It requires no >experience to be a model, but it does require natural >grace and fine physical proportions-in fact, "the female >form divine." Good looks do not count, though a >show-room figure must have attractions and dress much >better than the fitting-model in the workshop. > Manufacturers as a rule require a woman of about 5 feet, >6 ½ inches in height. She seldom goes under that, but >sometimes half an inch more is desirable. The >professional figure has a natural grace about her that >cannot be acquired by artificial means. Any young woman >who has the height mentioned above, a bust measurement of >36 inches, waist 24 inches, length of back from 16 ½ to >17 inches, arms 24 inches, neck 12 ½ inches, hips 42 >inches, and 13 ½ inches across the shoulders, is a >perfect figure and can find steady employment in any >cloak house at any time she chooses. > > > > The show-room models generally have a contract for all >the year round and are paid in full for the same, but >they seldom have anything to do except in January and >February when the buyers flock to market for the purchase >of spring goods, and in July and August when they lay in >a supply of fall and winter wraps. The workroom models >are always kept busy. They are the hardest worked of any >in the establishment, for upon her is tried twice at >least every garment turned out. The sample, or trying-on >model must be the most perfect. She, too, is compelled >to toil the year round. Large houses employ from 12 to >15 models." > > > Penny Ladnier, > Owner, The Costume Gallery Websites > www.costumegallery.com > www.costumelibrary.com > www.costumeclassroom.com > www.costumeslideshows.com > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > h-costume@mail.indra.com > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
