Mademoiselle La Roche

In the novel Destination Unknown, Mademoiselle La Roche is in charge of the dress department at Aristides's research establishment. Shortly after arrival, Hilary Craven was taken to her department to be kitted out as she had arrived with nothing except the clothes she wore. Mademoiselle La Roche had been a vendeuse in one of the Paris houses of haute couture and she attended to Hilary with enthusiasm. After meeting a range of robot-like people at the research station, Hilary found that Mademoiselle La Roche had a manner which was "thrillingly feminine". She had a wide range of clothes of excellent design and materials as well as a large cosmetics section. Mademoiselle La Roche told Hilary that her job was sometimes not very satisfying as many of the women scientists were not interested in dress.