Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1902 — DRESS COST $40,000. [ARTICLE]

DRESS COST $40,000.

Gown Exhibited in Chicago Made for the Czarina, but Rejected. The famous $40,000 coronation robe made by the ambitious Mme. Barutti, of Paris, for the Czarina of Russia was placed on exhibition In Chicago recently. The robe, which is the finest ever shown In America, and one of the finest ever seen at any time in the world’s history, was viewed by thousands of people. The costly gown Is a wonderful creation of gold thread, ermine, white satin and royal purple velvet. Not a Jewel was used on it, but SIO,OOO worth of gold thread and $7,000 worth of royal ermine were fashioned into the gown during the two years it took Mme. Barutti to complete it. The history of the royal robe Is as Interesting as its folds are luxurious. Royalty never wore the gown, although It was made for the Czarina, but without her knowledge. When the old Czar of Russia died, Mme. Barutti announced that she had been commissioned to make the robe for the Czarina. She hastened to carry out her plans. After many months she began showing the gown to her creditors, who were harassing her, for she owed more than 6,000,000 francs. Ambitious to become the royal dressmaker for all the houses of Europe and hoping thus to recoup her lost fortunes and clear up her credit, Mme. Barutti convinced her tradesmen her day was coming and secured further credit from them. The time arrived, however, when she saw the robe would not grace the coronation, and Mme. Barutti went to the room where the gown was displayed and killed herself. The gown and all she owned were sold at auction, and finally came into the possession of a New Y’ork firm. The great mantle, twenty-seven feet long. Is Ute main part of the gown. It is of royal purple velvet, trimmed with white satin ribbons and a wealth of gold thread, and lined with 1,500 royal ermine skins. The go*vn proper is decollete, of double thickness of white satin. The train extends 100 inches from the waist, and is bordered with a gold fringe two inches wide. Every detail of the wonderful robe is elaborately wrought. The scattered gold decorations and scroll work, the rich laces and heavy satin make it a modiste's dream. —Chicago Inter Ocean.