The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-09-11
DRESS AS AN ART.
come Tllppant, Though Very Usef01
| Trincs IN y woman's Education.

Some rIlppant, Though Very Usefof
| Trincs IN y woman's Education.
Undoubtedly 1t is the greatest mistake
in the world for any girl to regard dress
as her sole end and aim In life. H. be-
gets host of frivolous cares, none tho
less calling in that they are really alb
surd, and pitches ones life and purpose
In trifling key. But too great care
lessness in this matter is to be dcprccat-
ed. Outward appearances have much
to do with first impressions. and q
woman with the wisdom of Poftia and
wit of Rosalnd would be the reverse of
attractive If she displayed crumpled
collar and ill-fitting gown. composed of
colors that "wcar,n as the French say.
"Costly thy habit as thy purse can
buy" says tho worldly-wisc Polonius,
and he continues with unimpcachable
advice on style. There is nothing where
fitness can be more fully regarded or
| ignored than in this matter of dress.
Not only fitness for social condition,
but personal appearance and peculiar
tiles. Really, it is rarely that any two
persons can dress alike becomingly,
unless some very unostcntatlous stvle
and color is chosen; color and
fit are the two prime requisites in be-
coming gown. This matter of color is
always trying, in more senses than one,
unless one is born with an artistic sense
of harmony-which, alas is not the
good fortune of all. Thrice blessed is
the woman whose eye instantly sees the
harmony of color; who can always pick
out the correct hues for every combina-
tion.
To make dress truly an art, we must
take into account all the personality of
the wearer. Thus, u young girl should
wear simply made frocks of some unos-
tentatious material. During the sum-
mer she should confine herself as much
as possible to thin light-colored fabrics;
in the winter, soft woolens; if she de-
sires silk, it should be soft surah, or
else India silk. | am sorry to say u
great many country girls look upon a
stiff black silk gown, cracking with jet,
as the hight of their ambition in dress.
A plain black silk is q very useful gown,
and often has sort of demure dressi-
ness about it-don't you remember
Pollyp Miss Alcott's "Old Fashioned
Girl" with her best black silk-but
there are plenty of other things, more
suitable for a girl. An older woman
who has lost her youthful bloom, may
wear richer fabrics, of dark and unde-
cided colors.
We must always take figure into ac-
count. A large person, inclinng to
corpulence, must use light colors very
sparingly, and carefully avoio strag-
Cling figures, large plaids or bayadere
stripes. Perpendicular stripes, if not
too large, will appear to lessen the bulk
of the wearer Consequently, thin
would make her appear like unto
gridiron. Velvets and brocades may be
recommended to slender women, silks
and satins to their plumper sisters.
But excessively stout women must not
wear very shiny fabrics; stuflis which
absorb rather than reflect the light
should be chosen. Similarly, short or
stout women must avoid fussiness in
trimming. Conspicuous ruflles or
fichus must not be worn on the street
A plain ruche or linen collar only is adj
missible. Some women can not wear
the stiff collar; the ruche is allowable
with them. In colors, one sober hue
may De CHOSEN 1or the gown, Hghtened
by some little touch of brilliant color,
rs sort of keynote.
Brown is a color universally becom-
ing to blonde or brunette. but dirty
looking. undecided brown should never
be chosen. Light co!ors increase the
wearer's color; darker ones reduce it.
Thus pale blonde may wear light blue
or green, but navy or myrtle would give
a sallow tint. Pale brunettes must
wear very light or very dark colors.
Ruddy brunettes may wear decided
tints-no neutrals. White is very be-
coming, and so is clear yellow. If not
natural, the sense of harmony in
color may be acquired, and s'nce tho
art of dress is incomplete without it, it
is one of the necessary trifles in wo-
mans education. .-Rurat Me,o Yorker.