Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-05-09
Fitness OF Dress.

women is imitation. Naturally they are
refined, have good taste, aaG know what
is graceful and becoming; bu, their judg-
ment is constantly warped, and their ideas
vulgsrized. DO lhe effort TO be like some
one else, rather than lhems elves, and fol-
low caprice Of fashion rather than adapt
their dress 10 their own habits, personal
pecullarilies and circumstances.
Fitness is The most admirable quality in
dfess-flness 10 The person who wears il,
10 the time, place. and condition under
which il is worn. The dress suited 10 an
empress, and the stately (ormality of a
court, is not adapted to American women
under any circumstances. Still the city
dame may wear garments and styles that
would but cucumber and embarrass the
farmers wife, and the farmers wife dis
play a train and trimmings 10 her best
gown which would be sadly out of place
in the unsettled and seemingly quite ire
sponsible districts OF new territory.
What French fashions look like, bv the
time they reach Idaho or Colorado, it
would be hard TO conceive; but nearer
home, in the Interior part of the country,
We have seen them car;catured quite
enongh.
Styles adapted to the riches, fabrics are
reproduced in himsy, common mixtures
of cotton and wool. Rich trimmings are
made groesvue by cheap imilallons and
ornaments, worn only for whim or ca
price by some titled occupant Of carriage,
and paraded in glass and iinsel upon cot
ton velve, and shilling delaine.
Aping foreign styles, or styles unsuiied
10 our own condition. is the very essence
OF vulgsrily 1t is also essentially vulgar
TO look upon dress as Of higher importance
than the object for which it is worn.
There are persons who call themselves
women Of taste, who admire and wish 10
purchase every pretty thing they happen
10 see. Their wardrobes are filed with
clothes, all handsome or pretty in lh,m-
selves. but incopgruous when put togelh-
er; and if they wish TO dress for special
occasion, be it church or pic mic, they
"have nothing fit 10 pu. on"
A grea, desIdera.um Of American dress,
or rather dress for American women, is
simplicity. The less Of cheap trimming,
and the smaller the number OF garments 10
put on OF of before going out OF doors,
The better.
We require also 10 popularize through
out The country better class Of fabrics-
kind that will wash well, wear well and
always look well, and not require so ma
ny changes. A suit Of pure wool is worth
ten cotton mixtures, and can be worn with
satisfaction as long as i, lasts.
Cheap goods, moreover, almost always
come in light, fancy colors, which please
the eye at first, but have no solidity or du-
rablIty. A dark Winsey or all wool
cloth will clean, and make over and over.
while cheap fancy poplln, even if it is
"the latest sryIe," will look shabby after
a few times of wearing.
Good prints are boon 10 those who re-
quire washing dresses; but let il be good
French, English or Merrimac, al the
very worst. Nothing can be meaner than
faded calico.
Plain, quiet suits of thoronghly good
lsdy-like material. form dress admirably
suited 10 the wants OF large number oil
American women, and the best that FASH
ion has ever invented for street wear. Let
the women throughout The country, who
want sensible, convenient, inexpensive,
servicesble costume, adopt this; making
the bonnet Of the same material as the
dress when practicable, thus securing
novelty of shape and stye,snd lady-Ilke
harmony in design, with extreme moder-
lion in cost.
A"su," does away with the superaul-
ty of garments which encumbe- women,
andis an approximation 10 the convenience
OF male attire.
Let The women in our far territories try
it, shortened TO the proper walking g-length,
and our word for it, they will be delighted
with the experiment, and wish to adopt i,
permanenily:-Dfm DfmoreSfS Magazine.