- A ruthless fashion designer steps on everyone in her way in order to reach the top of her profession. Eventually she is forced to choose between her ambition and the man she loves.
- In New York's bustling garment district, fiercely ambitious model Harriet Boyd convinces Sam Cooper, a top "inside man" and production manager, to leave the firm for which they work to start their own dressmaking business. Sam insists that Harriet ask the firm's best salesman, Teddy Sherman, to join them, even though she dislikes Teddy's brash manner and persistent romantic overtures. Harriet shows Teddy some of her own dress designs, and, impressed by her talent and determination, he agrees to become a partner. Harriet's plans are temporarily halted when her mother states that she cannot have her late father's insurance money to begin her business, as Mrs. Boyd has promised the money to Harriet's younger sister Marge, who is to be married soon. Harriet, however, tricks Marge and her fiance Ray into giving her the money, and soon, Sherboyco Dresses opens for business. Buyers Hermione Griggs and Mr. Savage inspect Harriet's designs, and Teddy agrees to take Hermione to lunch and Savage to dinner to discuss their orders. That evening, when Teddy brings two models to have dinner with Savage, as he usually does for their "business meetings," he is dismayed to see that Harriet is already dining with him. Having fallen in love with Harriet, Teddy is outraged to see her flirting with the lecherous Savage, although she reminds him that as a salesman, he often "entertains" clients. The discussion grows more heated, and after Teddy socks Savage for grabbing Harriet, she storms out of the restaurant. Teddy follows her and proposes marriage, but Harriet declines, stating that she does not want to be owned by anyone. Teddy then declares that he wants out of their partnership, and Harriet replies that their contract is unbreakable, and that he had better work hard to make her rich. Later, Harriet meets influential J. F. Noble, the owner of a chain of posh department stores. Harriet and Noble begin dating, and when she sketches a gown design for him, he writes "Harriet of Noble's" on it, pins it to his bulletin board and offers to get her out of her contract so that she can work for him. Uncertain what to do, Harriet becomes edgy at work, yelling at Sam and the models and displaying frustration with designing the spring line. When Teddy discusses the situation with her, Harriet states that she is overworked and wants to quit. During a romantic carriage ride, Teddy again proposes and assures Harriet that he will take care of her. Impressed with Teddy's sincerity, Harriet goes to see Noble to reject his offer, but Teddy finds out where she is and interrupts their meeting. When Teddy sees the "Harriet of Noble's" gown sketch, he mistakenly assumes that Harriet intends to leave Sherboyco. Heartbroken and infuriated, Teddy yells at Harriet that he will not let her go. After Teddy leaves, Harriet asks Noble, who has also fallen in love with her, to help her break her contract. Soon after, Teddy departs on a sales trip, and while he is gone, Harriet shifts funds from Sherboyco to a new gown company, halts production on Sherboyco's line of dresses and begins making extravagant gowns for Noble's department stores. As the weeks pass, Sam becomes distressed, especially as Harriet has not told Teddy, who continues to collect orders for Sherboyco's increasingly in-demand $10.95 dresses. Finally, Hermione questions Teddy about the slow service she received, and Teddy rushes back to New York, where Sam informs him of Harriet's double-cross. Harriet, unaware of Teddy's return, discusses the situation with Noble, who assures her that unless Sam and Teddy sell her gowns to Noble's under their exclusive deal, the extra expense of their production will force Sherboyco out of business and she will be free of her contract. The next evening, Harriet, who is due to sail for Paris with Noble that night, goes to the office, where she tries to convince Sam and Teddy of the riches that await them if they support her gown line. Sam and Teddy have decided to stop production, however, and to accept the bankruptcy of Sherboyco rather than give up their original dream. Harriet tries to dissuade them from their decision, but Teddy insists that he would rather be ruined than comply with her scheme. Harriet then boards the boat, but when Noble callously states that he will do nothing to prevent Sam and Teddy's bankruptcy, she realizes that her place is with her partners. Returning to the office, Harriet professes her love for Teddy, and with Sam's encouragement, Teddy forgives and embraces her.
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By what name was I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1951) officially released in Canada in English?
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