New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-21
FKMALK ATTIRE.

A woman must either talk wisely or look
we'll 80 says the clerical satirist, Sydney
Smith. and proceeds to deduoe therefrom
the moral that as all women are not able at
al times to look we'll, the most beautiful
being inevitably incapacitated therefor in
course of time. it they live long enough, it
hehooves them all to endesvor in good sea-
son to prepare themselves to talk wisely.
This was the proper moral for him to draw,
as his subject was female education; ours
being female attire. we find it convenient to
draw another lesson from the same adage.
For if it is certain that all women can not
always look well as tar as personal
beauty is concerned. it is equally 80 that
some women can never by any possibility
any woman, by putting her mind
on it," may achieve such an appearance as
shall be ut least tolerable. perhaps pleasing.
This is not to be accomplished. however, BY
q slavish obedience to the dictates of fash
ion. nor even by placing herself unreserv-
edly into the hands Of an accomplished
modiste--sn exp-dient which only the few
Can afford-but by studying her own per-
soma! defects. recognizing her personal ad-
vantages There are few entirely devoid Of
them), and endeavoring, by judicious and
tasteful toilet, to conceal or coNpteract the
former and enhance the latter. To do this
is as much q part of a wOman's duty as to
properly order her household, to perform
her social obligations or to recognize just
claims on her benevolence; nor can she
tiOns OF more Importance, want of means,
years, or any other similar ex-
cuse. Nothing but sickness, deep distress
Of mind, or the direst poverty can excuse
a woman from the duty Of neatuess and be-
comingness in her attire. A sickly woman,
of course, can never look vol, but even she
should keep herself neat. and If she must
wear loose. shapeless gown, let it be of
pleasing hue. An OverwOrked woman, with
an exaetirg, selfish husband, and a swarm
Of troublesome children. can not have
much time nor inclination to devote to her
personal adOrnment; but some time and
thought even che must give TO suoh snb-
ects. She has to buy new clothes &C.
and while she is about it, should
get the prettiest she can afford, and make |
hem in the most becoming style. The hus- |
osnd and children, in whose behalf she |
makes fright of herself, would think |
more Of her and be the hsppie in her So
'iety if she would look better. Nor is it !
FIJI h.v ohunA.noa rf rv !
means in order to dress we'll. Many d
woman whose toilet was unexcep tiona Bile |
IN q narrow income, has degenerated |
nto a fashionable dowdy on receiving
sudden accession of fortune. Even
he advance of age does not excuse a
woman from the duty Of dressing well. 1t
imply requires q change of style corre-
pondipg to the change of appearance pro-
uced by years. The over forid face Of
middle age or the faded one of a more adj
anced period can not endure the delicate
right hues becoming the youth: neither Can
sc told ladies are usually either too fat or
DO thin), assume with prcpr;ety the style Of
arment suitable to an earlier period of lite.
ut there arc charming and oharmingiy
ressed old ladies, God bless them with
eecy lace round their dear old faces, with
0 suspicion of throats about the IN, clothed
soft grays snd lavenders, harmonizing
18th the faded hues Of their complexion
I'd hair.
But these are mefe generalities, our fair
'itical readers may say, and give Us no
zip ia the performance of this ''duty" of |
lessing well. What is dressing well, If it |
not following the fishionss We answer,
uay consist in adopting the latest fashion.
in modifying it, or in absolutely rejecting
according to it's sentiment, or its suita
lty to Individual style. For instance, We
ave seen some ladies lately with white
arselles vests, worn under open bodice
'esses, resem bling mems coats We should
ink this could not be becoming to any
oman, large or small, stout or slender,
ndsome or ugly, old or young.
To wear such garment Is the insolence
beauty. The very Goddess Of Love her
If, so altirtd, might expect to be slapped
the shoulder, with Hail fellow, well I
IT." by the merest chance acquaintance;
r 1t is the first requisite of woman's
ess that it should be womanly. Drapery,
,playing, while covering, the form if
cd, concealing it if bad. is always peas
:. Huge excrescences of dress material, ,
,rn apparently in the interest of dry +
DDS merchants, are displeasing. and, to +
, eye of taste, fashion can not make them :,
lerwlsr. Short dresses, however con-
aient are suitable only on very slender
ms with Cinderella feet. -
good test of taste in Dress is the stage. :.
ere fashion is dethr0ned, and beauty v
gns in her stead. Place upon tho boards
D women egIaliy oomely, well shaped
l grace full, one dressed in tho very .
ght of some absurd mode, and tie other .
\ rich, simple. womanly costume of two =
three hundred years ago, or of to-day, as :.
case may be, and contrast them. We i
lember observing such y contrast some
rs sluoe, when hoops were worn. The
ress dressed in unh,oped skirts, some l.
es floating, sometimes oiinging around :,
beautiful form, looked what she was, ~
Ovely woman from top to toe. The =,
er, fashionably ressed, with moderate
p, seemed richly olasped monster
nan to the waist only. No uRperverted -
but must have observed her inferiorlty ~
point of taste to her rival, who was no
t handsonier by Ia ure. Another school
acte in dress Is plot. graphy. Let Sophro
array herself II her new black silk, ~
led halfway up tho skirt and each ruffie n,
nd vita peacock blue Of the very latest
&c, aud e. to Anaerson's for full 4.