In the 1841 Census return

(see left) for Mme Dentiche and her ‘girls’, they are clearly shown as dressmakers. By way of a little background to this household, a newspaper report from 1841 Morning Herald (London) 30 July 1841, page 4, covered the court case of Madame Dentiche and her ladies (Odo is named in the article as grisette/housekeeper; grisette is ‘dressmaker’ in French) who had been taken to court for theft from a French dressmaker in St James, London. St James was a notorious haunt for up-market prostitutes. As ‘modistes’ – they had a ‘modiste’ brass plaque on their door – they should have been able to make their own dresses! The whole court knew what they are but the word prostitute is never mentioned.