Mid, Part 2

Mid in her St. Louis dress shop, 1940. (St. Louis Star-Times, 29 Oct 1940.)

Cape Girardeau was too limiting for someone with Mid’s avant-garde outlook and after graduating from Southeast Missouri State Teachers College, she moved to St. Louis, where she was living in 1935 and working as a dressmaker. But she was not just any old dressmaker. By 1940, she was renowned for her flair with color and drape. She even designed the flight hostess’s uniform for Chicago and Southern Air Lines, which had set up headquarters in St. Louis.

Mid designed the C&S uniforms (postcard).

Mildred was not good at choosing men. Her first marriage had failed, and the man she lived with in St. Louis was, according to relatives, highly questionable. But, as we will see next time, she found a perfect mate. Another marcher to a different beat.