European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse By Ruth Youngblood United press International p Riscili la Kidder. The matriarch i ho., bridal business in the world has som simple advice Lor today s lovers Don Belopo for the last 40 years Kidder has been wedding gowns thai have Baui Iliad nuptials from the while House to Monaco. Ai 69. Kidder. Hailed As the dior of the wedding gown Industry is As determined As Ever to make the wedding of every Bride wearing one 01 her creations a any she will never ,. Oes Pijo he career preoccupation of the 19sos woman. Kidder maintains the allure of a Bride is As special As Over. Only her personally has following decides of advising the. Fashion conscious including Washington celebrities european socialites and even an occasional member of a a la family most of her customers now Are self ass Iod in their professional lives Bui very unsure o themselves when it comes to fashion.". Aller adolescent years spent scouting at proms and Oiher dress up junctions most come in carrying Slacks of bridal magazines without the slightest idea of what they want Kidder says. Undeterred Pri Scifa and turn these baffled bul liberated cider tvs into visions of Fae auly. With the same drive that parlayed a hair Lor sewing and sales into a 30a-Employoe business and made Boston. Mass the wedding gown capital Kidder and her consultants educate each Bride in basics that. Include the appropriate underwear stockings shoes. Hon l be length hair style and even etiquette. Since they Don t know what looks Good we re very Frank and Kidder says. And we give everyone the same attention whether they re spending s300 or s15.000." her top Price or a gown is $30,000. The import land thing to. Remember is tote wedding Day is contrived but should t Kidder says. She recalled with horror one Bride who planned la Wear Black stockings under her gown and handed her mind at the last minute generating a frantic search the morning of the wedding Lor an open store to Lind a suitable pair. Today s grooms have taken a sudden interest in a flir Fiancee wedding gowns and this adds another seems like we have More grooms accompanying our clients than Kidder reports Man sees the Bride coming. Down the aisle All he thinks about is Beautiful she she says Bui when he s brought to the linings and consultations beforehand his ego lakes charge. He feels he has to say something Crill Cal. Frankly the Groom s taste is usually terrible but we be Learned to tie diplomatic about yet when i ail come together with a wonderful dress and the Bride looks great i really get a kick out of that. I always have. I be never seen who did t look special on her wadding Day Kidder says. ."they1 re either very Happy or terribly nervous Over the major change in. Their s Candor is As impressive As Ter Talent and business acumen. Her Mother taught her to saw As a child and she began designing doll s clothing at an Early age. At 1 a she became a Stock girl in the now defunct . White s department store. She was quickly elevated to sales clerk and later became an assistant buyer in the bridal department. She opened her own business in 1945 in a Small Tow Housa. The first week generated �10,000 in sales. That was during world War Kidder said. Silk was going into parachutes and the gowns were Basic satins costing $35 today her Brick factory in Boston s Charlestown neighbourhood turns out thousands of gowns a year for her own shops and for leading bridal establishments throughout the nation. The Hub of her ground floor office is a massive desk barely visible beneath magazines gown sketches and never production schedules displayed Fittie end Olathe room is a sign Reading. Don t elope.". Kidder
