The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-25
THE Hon z.
woMAN's DRESS.

woMAN's DRESS.
From the openions Of well known women,
published in the Louisville Courier- our
nal. on the subject of dress. We make a
few extracts. Mrs. Frank Leslie replied to
the question. "What constitutes q perfectly
dressed woman ?" as follows
1.-THE first principle of a well-dressed
woman is to be we'll shod and well gloved.
No matter how stability woman may be
attired. II she has on neat pair Of boots,
not without So many handsomely gowned
women are 'au fait' In every other respect
and go about with the shabbiest shoes I'M
aginable. Indeed, 1t has almost become q
much more particular regarding what they
wear on their feet than the rich. If wom-
an must ecOnomiZe, let IL not be done at the
extremities. A woman should dress very
simply for the street, In rather sombre col
Margaret E Sangster. editor Of Harper's
Dazsf. fcpiied ae follows: 1T Is such a
very big subject that don't see how 1t can
be covered In few words, but think
woman to be well dressed must be quietly
A woman should always dress In subdued
shades on the street, with no jewelry what
ever, for besides being in poor taste, IL Is not
good thing from a moral point of view. 1t
encourages theft by advertising what valua-
bles you possess, and creates envy in the
hearts of the shop girls, who, when they see
customer come in decked in fnery and
quantities of jewelry, feel that they must en-
deav0r in some way to do the same. /
should advise woman to purchase the best
material she can for her gowns. 1t Is GER
tainly more economical in the end. A wom-
an going to business should be attired In
dress OF some durable stuff which will at
tract little or no attention"
LII there be one woman in America who is
competent to discuss the dress question, 1t
is Jenny June. This Is what she said: "The
subject OF woman's dress Is so wide and one
about which so much has been said and writ
ten that hardly know what TO say, but just
TO express one idea on the subject, / think a
woman should always dress for the street in
manner that will attract the least notice.
She should be atmospheric, so to speak, in
tone with the beautiful blue and gray tints
OF the sky and with the prevalent atmos-
phere. 10 go out decked in gay attire and
In the brightest colors is as vulgar and out
OF place as it would be to go and ring your
dinner bell on the street. When you pass
woman on the thoroughfare who has on a
gaudy dress. wrap or hat, and Is In anything
and everything tending to distract the eye.
you Immediately feel as If you had come In
contact with a jarring note, and everything
around you becomes out of tune. While il
she is quietly and effectively gowned all is
smooth and passed along in perfect rhythm
Dut tnc nOus6, tn6 nome, Is W0man's partlc-
ular province. There she should wear the
softest, brightest, most lovely colors imagin-
able. Everything In fact which will add life
and color to her surroundings"
Laura Giddings, associate editor of Dress,
says; "A woman should not model her style
to suit fashion plate, but always consider
what Is the most becoming both in texture
and color. A well dressed woman should be
in harmony with her surroundings. What
would do for the parlor would not do for the
street. A walking dress should not touch
the ground. / know a great MANY dress
.laheis are gradually making dresses longer.
SO that they manage to drag, but 1t is not
correct to do SO. Quiet colors should ALWAYS
be chosen for the street. No lady of refine
ment likes to have attention called to herself
on public promenade. Wealth is not al
ways criterion of taste; poor working
dressed than the most handsomely decked
woman on the street, simply because she has
used good taste in choosing her costume.