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University Daily Kansan
Friday, May 11, 1962
'Worth' Label Cost $24,000
NEW YORK — (UPI) — Even in today's inflated economy, a woman who pays $2,000 for a dress creates an image of wealthy frivolity.
Yet, a century ago, a woman who could have rated one of those best-dressed lists, if there had been such things for great-great-grandma, might have spent as much as $24,000 for one garment. And no one would have said much except, "It has a 'House of Worth' label."
It was not unusual then, on the basis of records available, to find a customer billed for $15,000 to $24,000 for a single ball gown.
YET the wearer got her money's worth. With the help of her own little dressmaker altering here and there as the years passed, a dress lasted a lifetime.
Worth, born in Lincolnshire, was apprenticed to 10 a draper (salesman of yard goods) when his father, a lawyer, suffered financial setbacks. At 20, he took off for Paris, where his first jobs also were with drapers.
THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY today can thank Worth for originating the idea of the living model to show off clothes; for instigating the wholesale fashion business (until Worth began to sell his designs to stores internationally, a woman depended on her own little dressmaker for production of clothes); for the numerous peripheral industries which it created and still are going today — textiles, trimmings, accessories and perfumes.
FOR THE SAVVY of Worth's son, Gaston, who in the 1890s organized the Chambre Sundicale of French Designers to protect their creations from being copied; and for Worth's contribution not only in creating an age of elegance but in the practical techniques he developed for dress-making, his development of basic patterns, for instance.
These could be interchanged to provide a variety of styles. One bodge pattern with standard armhole could be fitted to some 30 different sleeve designs. One group of Worth sketches shows one skirt varied a dozen different ways just by trim.
Ellen Humphrey
Couples Engaged
Mr. and Mrs. I. G. Humphrey of Baytown, Tex., announce the engagement of their daughter, Ellen, to Robert Wainwright, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Wainwright of Mission.
Miss Humphrey is a junior in the College and a member of Alpha Chi Omega social sorority. Wainwright graduated from KU in January and is presently employed in Kansas City. He is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity.
The wedding date has been set for September 2 in Danforth Chapel.
Mr. and Mrs. Paulus J. Glass of Overland Park announce the engagement of their daughter, Marlene, to Jack L. Sievert of Lawrence, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Sievert of Lake City, Iowa.
Miss Glass is a graduate of Cotley College in Nevada, Mo., and the University of Kansas. At present she is a graduate student in music.
Sievert graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where he received a master's degree in music. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinifonia, professional music fraternity, and Theta Alpha Phi, professional drama fraternity.
The wedding will take place June 2.
Women Receive Pins
Kappa Alpha Theta announces the pinning of Jane Bushfield, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, to William J. Gremp, Minneapolis, Minn., sophomore. Gremp is a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Sigma Nu announces the pinning of Ray Woods, El Dorado sophomore, to Judy Southard, Springfield, Mo., sophomore. Miss Southard is a member of Chi Omega sorority.
Kappa Sigma announces the pinning of Steve Plaster, Kansas City, Mo. sophomore, to Phyllis Frickle of Kansas City, Mo. Miss Frickle is a nursing student at Research Hospital in Kansas City. The pinning was announced at the Kappa Sigma Stardust Formal.
Pi Kappa Alpha announces the pinning of Herman Mast, Lawrence junior, to Mary Jean Grimshaw, Wilmette, Ill., freshman. Miss Grimshaw is a member of Gertrude Sellards Pearson.
. . .
Acacia fraternity announces the pinning of Warren D. Keller to Jo Anne Wells of Lewis Hall. Both Keller and Miss Wells are Winfield juniors.
Sweethearts Chosen In Two Fraternities
Alpha Tau Omega announces the pinning of Berry L. McCord, Harrisonville, Mo., senior, to Gloria Mays, Lyons junior. Miss Mays is a member of Chi Omega sorority.
Kappa Sigma announces the pinning of Bruce Knight, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, to Sharon Duffendack, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore. Miss Duffendack is a member of Alpha Chi Omega social sorority.
Mary Anne Marshall, Belleville,
Ill., sophomore, was named sweet-
heart of Kappa Sigma at the annual
Kappa Sigma Stardust Formal.
The pinning was announced at the Kappa Sigma Stardust Formal.
Great Second Reunites
Miss Marshall was presented a sweetheart cup and a bouquet of red roses by Mrs. Edna Stewart, Kappa Sigma housemother. Miss Marshall is engaged to Chuck Fisher, Prairie Village senior.
Mary Jean Grimshaw, Wilmette, Ill., freshman, was named Dream Girl of Pi Kappa Alpha at the Pi Kappa Alpha annual Dream Girl formal. She was presented with a cup and flowers.
In theory, in law, and to a great extent in fact, the American woman has the freedom to compete with men on equal terms; but psychically and socially she is caught in a society still dominated by masculine power and standards, so her heart is not in it—Max Lerner
The Great Second Floor Alumnae Association will hold its third reunion at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. This will be its last reunion while its members are attending KU.
The Great Second Floor consists of the women who lived on the second floor of Corbin-North during their freshman year, 1958-59. The women named this floor "The Great Second" and themselves "Great People."
Their humor was carried to the "Kansas City Star" when it published an article about the floor's naming. The story was titled, "Monie's Monkeys," "Monie" referring to their counselor, Ramona Rush, Little River graduate student.
"The Great Second" had its first reunion in 1960 when the alumnae association was formed and a president elected.
In Paris a popular hair topping is lace, heavy stiffened and moulded into a tiny Jacky-style hat.
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