New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-25
WOMIsN's GEAR.

Capitalization carries with it's wealth, gained
rapidly through speculation, habits OF Profuse
expenditure-those even who are not able to use
money layishy being fired by vain desire to
compete with such "a can. The influence sew
orally of caste and of sumptuary laws may re-
strain the profuseness of people Of small means,
while il keeps up the outward marks of servile
nferiority, as is evidenced in various Pc
RODS and places Of the world. The lines yet
drawn between the gentleman's and the trades
mans conditions in England are strong that
economies rule the latter to an extent which
cannot prevail in America and only partially in
France But in New-YOrk above all large
cities ancient or modern, where there is kind
of Capitalization, the stern barriers of birth,
antecedents and caste triturated into impalpa-
bic powder, and the competition in material dis
play converted into a scrub-race, where rich
and poor enter alike for the stakes. The ap-
prentice here is not obliged to cut his hair in
particular way; it is not expected that the
tradesman will wear black trousers while walt
ing on his customers, or the seryant-girl plain
cap in the street. All classes, so far az rights
are concerned, are merged in one. If they fail
in dress and manners, it is chiefly through the
want of artistic and moral perceptions, and not
through the legal Or customary restraints of
wealth and privilege
This open field for display is especially evil
dent in the dress Of women. The simpler attire
of men, the palmer cOOrs and monotony of de-
sign render the differences of their dress less
palpable; though it must be confessed the man
Of taste can show il in every detail from the
elegance of his necktie to the appointments Of
his boots. But when we come to the artillery
of the feminine toilet as it is in America and
especially in New-York, there are exhibited
forces in the practical glare of the day and the
dusty crush of the street which custom has
heretofore assigned TO the poetry Of candlelight
and the spotless ease of the drawing-room or
opera-box. This day display is peculiar TO
America, and though sufficiently initiated
elsewhere, is found here in the largest
quantity if not in the most concentrated form Of
any city in the Union. Expense Of fabric and
violence of color-the scene considered-which
are unknown in the great capital of good taste,
in Paris, are here in vogue. We are not pre-
pared to agree TO al Partisan dicta IN dress, 1--WE
prefer the perfect Englishman's dress 20 the
Partisan though that will rule until we de-
termine il shall not; nor are We entirely Of
opinion with an accomplished French cotem-
porsry. that the walking dresses Of women in
NeW-York should be of exactly such texture and
such tints as in Paris. There are reasons why,
without ofense against taste, women may dress
somewhat more slowly here in the street thai
there, arising out Of climate Tse pr6dOmi.
nance of rainy, miHty AID damp days in Paris
determines the average style Of walking drsss,
which must be more sober and solid than here
where drier, warmer weather and an atmosphere
of unequaled resplendenee invite a more bril-
liant style OF street plumage. But even with
that qualification, our women dress uniformly
in too gsGdy and foolshly expensive a style in
the street Dress depends more upon cut
than color. Given, sober material handled by
some fashiOnist Of inspiration, and artistically
charming results in effect may follow, while aby