Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-09-02
DRESS AS AN ART.
Some Flippant, Though Very Usef0
TrffIes in q woman's Education.

1
Some FIippant, Though Very Usefuf
| TRIES in woman's Education.
Undoubtedly 1t is the greatest mistake
in the weld for any girl to regard dress
as her sole end and aim in life. 1t be-
gets host of frivolous cares, none the
less CALLING in that they are really alb
| surd, and pitches ones life and purpose
in trifling key. But too great care
iessness in this matter is to be deprecat-
ed. Outward appearances have much
to do with first impressions, and a
woman with the wisdom of Portia and
wit of Rosalind would be the reverse of
attractive if she displayed a crumpled
collar and ill-ftting gown, composed of
co1ors that wear as the French say.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can
buy says the worldly-wise Polonins,
and he continues with unimpeachable
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 becominglv,
unless some very unostentatious style
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
l,t tha bnoo
ton.
To make dress truly an art, we must
take into account all the personality of
the wearer. Thus, a young girl should
wear simply made frocks of some unos-
tentatous material. During the sum-
mer she should confine herself as much
as poss bic 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
great many country girls look upon
stiff black silk gown. cracking with jet,
as the hight of their ambition in dress.
A plain black silk is very useful gown,
and often has sort of demure DIRE. 81
ness about it-don't you remember
Polly? -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-
;ided colors
We must always take figure into ac-
count A large person, inclining to
corpulence. must use light colors very
sparingly, and carefully avoio stray
Cling figures, large plaids or bayadere
stripes. Perpendicular stripes, if not
too large, will appear to lessen the bulk
of the wearer. Consequently, a thin
woman must avoid these stripes, which
would make her appear like unto a
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; stuffs which
absorb rather than reflect the light
should be chosen. Similarly, short or
stout women must avoid business in
trimming. Conspicuous ruffies or
tichus 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 be chosen for the gown, lightened
by some little touch of brilliant color,
as a sort of keynote.
Brown is color universally becom-
ing to blonde Or brunette, but dirty
looking, undecided brown should never
be chosen. Light colors increase the
wearer's color; darker ones reduce it.
Thus pale blonde may wear light blue
or green, but navy or myrtle would give
sallow tint. Pale brunettes must
wear very light or very dark colors.
Rudy 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 since the
art of dress is incomplete without it, it
is one of the necessary trifes in a wo-
mans education. Rural NeaD Yorker.