The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-02
"a PRINcEssn TIsI.Ls rHE sEoRlsr.
why American Women Are the Best-Dressed
Ladies' in the World.


why American women Are the Best-Dressed
Ladies in the World.
New York Times.
do you think American ladies dress as
fashionably as their English and French sis
ters2a
La Princesse was stitching away for dear
life; her needle described wonderful evolutions
through the air; her line Of snow white thread
grew beautifully less in an incredibly short
of a French modiste, with the energy of one
who had but recently set up" and was
anxious to make her way in the New York
world of fashion. She was La Prineesse' only
to her intimate friends and admirers The young
man who addressed to her the above question
belonged to one OF these classes. She knew to
which.
Fashion is an absurd, intangible will-o' the
wisp,p answered La Princesse, SO yehemently
that her broken, but delightful English failed
her. and she had to seek reinforcement from her
native Partisan. English and French ladies fol
low this will-oit he-wisp blindly. American ladies
don't They're too original They don't run in a
herd after some silly style that can never suit
La Princesse ran her needle into her little
white thumb in her enthusiasm. Her listener
was obliged to stanch tho flow of blood
Il left Paris she continued, because have
an inventive needle which goes for nothing in
Europe. | have made the most rapturous cos
TUNES, and they have all remained upon my
hands, because, forsoothl Nine Ia Comtesse de
Trois Etoiles or the Princess of Wales declined
to wear them. In Europe may say, the old
monarchcal spirit exists with regard to dress.
People set up 3 queen and bow down to her with
insane reverence. They wear what she wears,
matter whether it suits them or not She
may be abnorma.ly stout and patronize dresses
designed to conceal her obesity They may be
maryelausly lean, but they will wear the same
garments and copy her Celia m'agacei In Amer
lea it is so entirely different. Ladies wear only
what sets off their particular style to advantage
If they discover pretty toilet. and then learn
that it was the fashion fifty years ago they will
adopt that toilet if it suit them. You see a hun
bred different styles in Fifth avenue, You can
find but one miserably exaggerated fashion in
Rotten Row or the Champs Elysees.
La PrneeSse was go interested that her stitch
ing was abandoned.
why, do you KNOW she went on, that
have actually seen the most antqe silks, which
a Londoner or Partisan would cast aside con-
temptuously, made up into enchantingly natty
little costumes in New York; This independ-
ence in dress exists nowhere but in America.
Deduction: American ladies surpass all Others
in personal appearance. Oh, mon cher, that is
we'll known. You see get the Partisan fashion
books, she continued, pointing to the usual
highly-coiored pictures of ladies with waists SO
small that they seem to be about to snap. Il
get them perhaps to obtain an idea or two
never show them to my customers They al
ways tell me to make what is suitable to their
peculiar personalities. | 10 So"
Il don't believe what you say about the Eu-
ropeans, said he who listened, Indignantly. He
knew nothing Of the cause of fashion-only its
effect.
Petit idiotm exclaimed the lady angrily
Listen and I'll give you as many examples as
you can require. Mime. de Pompadour once had
an ugly pinple on her chin She was vexed, and
at last in despair, pasted piece Of black plaster
over the offending spot Result: all the ladies of
the court appeared the following week with
pieces of plaster ON their faces. a fashion was
established, and it was kept up for long time.
The same lady, as suppose You know, was ex-
ceedingiy dlninutive in stature. TOremedy this
defect she invented high-heeed boots. They
were unknown before her time. RESULT The
ladies of the court took to high-heeled boots and
another fashion had BIRTH"
I'm nearly convinced"
"Oh, but I've not finished yet. Marie Antoin-
cite had enormous quantities Of hair. She
didn't know what to do with it. She was wait
ing for a barber one day with the intention of
being shorn, and had piled up her hair in
neglige manner when she suddenly found that
this style of head-dress off her small features
to advantage. Result: Monstrously high
.eoiffRres came into fashion, and were sworn for
q very long time Anne of Austria had exguis-
| itely formed arms. Result: Short sleeves came
| into fashion,
WELL where's England in this CONTROVERSY
"Hel het he!7 chaekled La Princesse. I'm
coming to Albion. The Princess of Wales is the
unfortunate possessor of a limp. No, sir, not
chic little amble, but ugly unprepossessing
limp. Well, would you believe it! Some time
ago large number of ladies' had one heel of
their shoes made lower than the other. Result:
Alexandria limp became the height of fashion
The 'Grecian bend was another result of this
| unf ortunate defect WE'LL this same noble lady
has some slight deformity in the neck, which
| prevents her from wearing dresses cut low. Re
suit: the fashion, which still RACES among
English ladies, for bodices reaching almost to
| the ears, which fashion is much ridiculed among
the Parisians. must say it is q case of the pot
| calling the kettle black
I'm quite convinced
ooh you are!' exclaimed La Princesse delight
eddy. Mark my words when / tell you the
American ladies are the only well-dressed women
| in the worldn And La Princesse took up a
dainty little bodice and stitched away diligently,
! while her listener wondered what New York
! goddess would enhance the beauty Of the gar
ment.