Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-01-29
From the Liverpool Albion, November %.
REMARKS On FEMALE DRESS,


Among the novelties of the times, the
fashions OF ladies dresses are peculiarly
remarkable, when conirasted with those
IN vogue twenty years ago. At that time,
FIVE and half, or six yards of cloth were
considered sufficient Tor the making of
lady's gown of fashionable cut, SO closely
was that garment fitted to the shape and
such is the effect OF bahitual observance
in reconciling US to whatever is immediate
that what in the present fashions at first
Iappeared TO DE whimsical or incongruous
| is soon regarded as fit and admirable -
while review Of the prints of the fashions
of quarter of a century back, cxciies a
smlle atihe now apparently awk ward and
unbecoming costume Of those days-the
little bonnets, the plain uEplalted dresses,
narrowing at the fees, and like the neither
hablliment Of the witch of Kirk Alloway,
i'll longitude SO sorely scanty." An in
spection, however, of both costumes, at
the bar of taste, will convince reasonable
minds, that our fancied improvements are
for the most part questionable; and that,
! il the ladies of 1900 were guilty of scan,y
garments, those of 1929, are delinquents
in the opposite extreme, by enlarging
and modelling their lovely forms to the
beau ideal OF female beauty, by means
of bustles, cushions, plating, siufTiing,
putting, and other elegant et-ceteras of the
toilet.
| Few persons unacquainted with the oc-
cult machinery OF a lady's wardrobe, are
aware OF the anatomical instruments now
in use to improve the female form di-
vine" or OF the amazing quantity of mate
rial in which modern bellies encase their
lovely persons. lady nowadays, re-
CURES, not paltry half dozen yards Tor a
gown, but no fewer than eighteen yards
are requisite to make that sing lie article OF
her dress. We even know one lady Of di-
minuive stature, who actually coniriyed
to consume twenty-iour yards of silk in one
dress; sufficient quantity to have served
her grandmother, IN former times. for three
or four. The clothes Of children are, in
like manner, made SO as to consume the
greatest possible quantity Of material, and
a girl SIX years Uf age, is bundled up into
as much stnff in her irock alone, as would
have made a cloak for her mother dozen
years ago!
l We should not feel inclined 10 repre-
bend this profuse expenditure Of clothing
material, were it observed without render
ling its objects somewhat ridiculous; for it
must tend greatly to increase the consump-
ton Of goods, and thus benefit the manu-
featuring interests Of the country. But it
IS to be lameDted, that this fashion like o.
theirs that are carried to excess, involves
certain points or usages, tie utility or elc-
) gance OF which are SO questionable, tina;
nothing but daily custom prevents eli SEN
sible people from setting them down as al
together absurd. The hustle, for instance,
or stifenings to enlarge the hips, are a
down right imposition upon the creduity
Of the male community. So III some de-
gree are the enormous sleeves, like bal
looms, much thicker than the waist Of the
wesrer, and together, with the bustles a.
fofesald, and certain other stpfIings, arc
intended by contrast TO give the waist an
unusual appearance Of slenderpess. Some
Of these sleeves have hoops Of whaIebone
within them. The shape OF the arm is thu.
entirely concealed in the huge cavity with