The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-05-20
LADIES COLUMN.
The Art of Dressing.

Il
1t Is easier, all things considered,
to dress prettier In summer than
in winter. To begin with, the ma
terials OF which summer dresses
are made are generally less expen-
sive than the heavy fabrics used
for winter garbs, and pretty and
tasteful ones are consequently more
within the reach of all purses.
| There are certaia styles of summer
dresses, particularly summer mourn
ing dresses, which are always more
or less fashionable, because they be-
| long to no particular fashion, and
which can be worn with perfect
propriety for several seasons in sue
cession, often without seeming out
of place, or without it being neces-
sary materially to change their
| character.
A fresh white dress, for example,
with few bright knots of ribbon,
which is always easy to have OF the
| width, and texture, and color fash
ionable at the moment, unless absO-
lutely antediluvian in its make, will
be pretty and appropriate at all
times, even if not manufactured af-
ter the latest mandates of fashion.
Fnis is convenience which ap-
plies chiefly to washed dresses, and
which, in a measure, is a result of
the necessity there is for having
quite a number of them for frequent
changes if they are to look well. |
Freshness-immaculate freshness
is the first consideration with thin |
summer dresses. Nothing is more
untidy or unlady-like in appearance
than a draggled muslin, or a soiled, |
tumbled white dress, and to be at |
tired always with this unspotted |
freshness lady must have ward
robe well fitted out with dresses |
that wash. In themselves they |
constitute but a slender expense, |
everything depends upon the-way
in which they are "done up" TAX |
ing this into conside ration, many !
ladies' have begun to consider dress
es that wash Improbable invest !
ments, and not few have, of late
years. abandoned them. This we
think a mistake. A variety of |
dresses that wash may not consti
Jutc a more economical wardrobe,
in the long run, than grenadines,
summer silks, toulsrds and the like;
it has been proved in fact, that they
do not, but then they are not more
expensive either than the latter;
and certainly they are wonderfully
cool and fresh looking, and on a
hot, dusty day make the woman
dressed in them produce much the
same pleasant, restful impression
that a shady path, green pastures
and an icy sprirg would produce on
a tired waytarer. OF coure dresses
of this description need not exclude
the wearing of the above mentioned
foulards, grenadines, and so on. ;
The eyes tire at last of the pretti-
est things, and it is in human ma
ture to wish for variety. but we do
not think that ladies who are fur
lished with a respectable stock OF l
hem, among their morning toilets |
need ever have any {
:ause to regret it. When thin c
awns or organizes, white or in col q
'rs, are worn, the greatest care d
hould be taken as to the under
waist, upon which. as it shows
through the fabric so plainly, much
not all of the effect OF the whole :
odice depends. Many ladies wear =
nderwaists that reach to the neck y
nth their muslin dresses and very :
ngainly the appearance of the 7
hole toilet is in consequence. II
he neck is so very thin that some =
hing is required to conceal it,
materials had better not
e worn at all. But this is but
arely the case, as a vailing OF soft, n
hin muslin over the neck will gen b
rally give a certain appearance of -
to the frame most desti- !,
ute of flesh. There is something n
inconGruOus in the effect II
4 transparent dress worn over a e
hick, high undsrwaist. The whole L
haracter Of the toilet is destroyed :,
y it. The underwaist should be t,
ut low, either square or rouod, but l;
Dw back and front, it should also &
it the figure faultles-ly. 1t Is not
'ossible To make dress of thin ma Y
erial fit as snugly as one of thicker h
tutT without having it strain at the t;
cams, and as that always spoils D
he appearance of the costume, it is II
better to have dresses of this sort 5
made to fit rather easily than other t,
.rwise, and To have the underwaIst o
axe the figure closely. The under o
waist has then the appearance of :
iJting well without being strained.
The under waist should be trimmed
)rettily either with embroidery or t.
ace, and in whatever way will best 3
correspond with the trimming upon il
lie dress. A though it is not nee
sssary that the trimming should ,
and many ladies think
20. still the effect when it does is
much more complete and pretty.
Tue skirts worn with thin dresses
should also be preLtly trimmed,
and they should have as little full j
ness as is compatible with their
hanging well. Thin materials flow
away from the figure so much that
unless the understands are very
,lInging, the effect of the whole tot 1
ct and form Is bunchy and dowdy
A good plan is TO have the petit I
coat and uuderwaist made into one,
ike plain. tight fitting under
ireSs, trimmed about the bottom
md around the neck, all fullness Of
gathers, or buttons and strings
bout the waist, is thus done away
With, and the whole toilet fits more
moothLy, hangs more gracefully
md more as if il were nodded tn the