West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-01-13
HOW SMALL AN AMOUNT CAN
A WOMAN DRESS WELL.

ticle, which seems OF such interest,"
to our friends, the ladies, was print
ed December 10th.
For a woman who goes into society
one distinct evening dress is ne
cessity. The most seryiceable she
can choose is one of soft, thick, all
silk veloutine, which hangs beauti-
fully and has very rich effect-yet
is not as costly as heavy faille. II
she is the happy possessor of some
real lace, she may drape itupon the
bodice-and sleeves-otherwise she
must select fine imitation Mechlin,
in maiden hair fern, or Edelweiss
pattern, and add to this delicate
vest front of lace, or dotted crepe de
cuine. The skirt should be made
with moderate, full, round train
and draped front. The sleeves half
long, and, if full, with cuffs that can
be covered with lace. Such dress
may be worn for ten years; but that
is only in crisis; under ordinary
circumstances, it should be renewed
in two, or, at most, three years-and
the old silk used in combination, for
an indoor dress or costume.
is not generally wise to combine
two materials in new dress; it los
es the advantage Of freshness in
combination in making over, and
makes the new dress look as if it
might have been an old one, recon
structed.
Some ladies consider white silk
the most economical of all evening
dresses, and it is from some points
of view. 1t may be cleaned, dyed,
covered with lace, or thin tissue, and
in many ways preserved long time
for service. But to the majority of
economists-who are often hard
worked, and hard working women,
it is an object to save the necessity
for change and labor upon their
clothes; besides which they know
that silk draped up with cheap,
diaphonous stuff, never looks as
well, or as permanently handsome,
as u simple. rich fabric, excepting
in the case of young girls, who do
not need silk at ALL but look best
and are most suitably dressed, in
thin all,white wools. upon such oc-
casions as require evening toilet.
Hundreds of old black silks have
been utilized during the past two or
three years for the fashionable furor
for lace dresses. The average
cost of deep, piece or tiounce lace
for skirt covering and drapery may
be put at two dollars and halfpe
yard. Seven yards are required,and
from three to five yards more OF
finer quality but narrower, for the
corsage and sleeves. The cost OF
the whole, with ribbon loops, would
be perhaps twenty five dollars. This
is a large sum to add TO the cost OF
new silk. for the foundation dress,
hut it is comparatively small sum
by which to effect the transforms
ton of worn and unwearable black
or white silk to really elegant
evening dress, adapted to diversified
occasions. The only difficulty is
that 'lace" dresses are not always
in fashion, and do not keep as well
as those of more solid construction;
they must therefore be utilized for
all they are worth while the vogue
lasts.
Care isa great secret of economy;
and this is a gift which does not
come to all, and is with difficulty
acquired. Some persons beautify
that which belongs to them, others
at once defile and misuse it. Clothes
require to be treated gently and
with consideration, softly handled,
shaked and brushed, hung by prop
er loops, in natural folds, not crowd
ed, and kept to their distinctive
places and uses. Care of the person
is an aid in economizing clothing,
for nothing is more destructive than
dirt, perspiration, skin exhalations,
and nothing furnishes more rapid
marks of deterioration. Care is par
ticularly necessary in the use of
gloves, fine handkerchiefs, and such
other costly accessories of the toll
ette are indispensable-fans for eX-
apple. People who are careless of
their own belongings, are no less
careless of those Of others. | have
seen rich woman borrow fine fan,
sling it to and fro until she had
broken three of the pearl sticks;
then hand it back to the not rich
woman from whom she had borrow
ed it with the Indifferent remark. Il
am afraid l have broken il" but she
did not offer to have it mended.
Gloves are among the most costly OF
the minor articles of attire, because
they so soon soil and show signs OF
wear. But they can be greatly saved
bv care IN taking them on and Off
by substituting old ones for jour
news. and times when hard service
is demanded; by the supplementary
fastening of buttons before wearing
and neatly repairing small breaks.
In fact, if money and maid are not
at command-eternal vigilance is
the price of we'll dressing.
Perhaps the most difficult problem