The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-12-18
ECONOMY IN DRESS.

A dress that is sc peculiar as to be
striking, either from its brilliancy
of color or any other cause, should
be adopted only by a woman who
has many changes Of rRimeat, and
SO may wear it only occasionally, or
the sight of it becomes bore, even
if it at first is interesting from it's
novelty. The woman who has
many dresses can afford also to give
it away CT convert it TO some other
use before it is worn. while the I'M
obtrusive dress easily lends itself to
some different adjustment, which
gives it an entirely new aspect.
a woman who has only one best
gown can "wear it with a differ
ence," like the rue Ophelia offers to
her brother, so as to make it suit
able to many occasions, especially if
she have two waists, or bodies" as
the English call them. One skirt
will easily outlast two waists, and
therefore this is real saving. But
suppose that there be but one waist,
or the dress be made all in one
piece (than which there is no pref
tier fashion,, and it should be worn
one day high in the neck, with
collar and cuffs, on another day
with the neck tucked in, and a lace
or muslin fichu gracefully adjusted
with bows or flowers, and a bit of
lace at the wrists, pair of long
gloves, and more elaborate dress
ing of the hair, it will be scarcely
recognizable. But the dress must
be Of a very general character, like
black silk, or some dark color, or
the pleasure of the new impression
is lost.
The wise person with a small
capital meyer buys any but a good
and lasting thing Each year she
adds one or two really solid posses
sions to her wardrobe, which.
treated with care, last her many
wears. Thus on really small sum
she may dress very beautifully.
Without capital one is often
obliged to buy what can last for a
few mon tbs; but there is choice
even here.
There is certainly a great economy
in woman's adopting for occa-
sions of ceremony one dress from
which she never DIVORCES. It be-
comes her characteristic, and there
is even a kind of style and beauty
in the idea. The changing fashions
in color and material pass without
affecting her. She is never indnced
to buy anything because it is new.
She is always the same. The dress
in this case must have certain
simplicity. 1t costs her little
thought and little time, and when
the old edition, becoming worn,
oives way to the new, the change is
not perceived, nor is it noticed when
the new IN its turn becomes old.
Such dress as this must OF course
lie within certain limits. Suppose
it to be a black velvet: it would
last. with care. at least five or six
vears. Suppose it to be white
eashmere-a dress of small cost: it
could. with care, last two seasons !;
and then. cleaned, last another
season or two; and then, dyed. be
turned into a walking dress to last
two seasons more,
If a dress is put'on with grace,
its owner alone is aware OF It's de-
fects. and it is a kindness to the
spectator if she will keep her own
secrets.
In France, and 1 believe also in
Italy. they have a poetic fashion OF
dedicating for a number OF years
five, ten. or twenty years, accord
ing to the parents fancy young
girls to the Virgin. do not know
in what way they demonstrate this
dedication except in the color OF
their dresses, which is always, for
all occasions, summer or winter,
blue or white, or white and blue
mired. This affords more variety
than at first thought it would seem
to be capable of, for any shade OF
blue may be used,
There is great economy III decd
ing on a few becoming colors in
their several shades, and combining
ones dress to these. Choosing
cOlors that harmonic with each
other, like gray, black, purple, blue,
yellow, white, and never buying
snv other colors, one may, in max
ing over garments, use one with
another so that nothing IS wasted
It's also important TO know what
point of dress to emphasize. Fol
instance, one may eXpend a large
sum on gown. and if the shoes are
shabby or Ill made, the gloves worn
and the bonnet lack style, the gown
is entirely thrown away. But the
gown may be no longer new; il
must now be carefully brushed and
We'll put on. the collar and cuffs, OF
other neck and wrist trimmings
must be III perfect order. the boots
well made and well BACKED, even II
not new, the gloves fauItless, and
the bonnet neat aud stylish. The
effect is OF a well-dressed woman
no man, and very few women, Der
| ceive that the dress is not new
| One.-YGTDer, H0qGzi7le.