Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-29
REVOLUTION IN DRESS.
N OF by the Fashionable Folk, but by
New York's Army of Shop Girls.

NEW VI x > ARMY OI oHCp GlllS.
Great indignation prevailed among the
New York shop girls some time ago
when Brooklyn firm made it oblga.
tory upon their employees to wear black
dresses at their work, MOI would the fair
saleswomen of the metropolis be recon-
ciled by the promise made by the firm
to present each girl with a gown at the
time the regulation went into effect.
No, indeed, the New York shop girl
didn't ask or want any firm to furnish
her q gown. >he could buy her own,
and she didn't propose to submit to
any dictation as to what that gown
should be, SO long as it was neat and
suitable for her work. the store she
was employed in watn't an asylum, the
proprietors didn't provide for her, and
she didn't intend to weara uniform, like
house of correction children out on a
holiday. She didn't calculate to be
"bossed" by any storekeeper, either.
She earned her money and he earned
his. He wore what he chose, and she
didn't see why she shouldn't have the
same privilege. And there was a great
futtering of feathers, switching OF petit
coats, add flashing of eyes directly the
subject was mentioned.
But since that time gradual modifi-
cation of dress has been going on among
the shop girls, until now the despised
color has become the characteristic tint
of the shop girls garb in New York
almost as much as in Paris. This is due
to a variety of reasons, of which the
chief one is the growing intelligence
among the girls and not at all to the
suggestions of the proprietors. Super
intendents Of departments and sales
women in costume rooms invariably
wear black gowns, partly because they
are expected TO in the lattercase as colored
gowns would frequently be brought in
contact with costumes of an inharmoni-
ous tint and would also detract from the
brilliancy of the gowns on sale by lack
OF contrast, also because the capable, in
telligent women who occupy important
places realize that no color is so appro-
pirate for business purposes az black,
which is always genteel and ladylike
and never goes out OF style in a single
season, like fashionable shades in
brighter hues whose popularity is
ephemeral.
The working girls clubs have played
an important part in bringing about the
desired reform. The leaders and foun-
ders Of the clubs are women of means
and place, and by sheer force of example
in the wearing OF simple but neat gowns
and bonnets they have done away with
much of the ostrich feather gorgeous
ness OF former days. The training of
the girls in interest above and better
than the display OF finery, the develop
ment of womanliness, the hints on dress
and its requirements, all carefully and
kindly accomplished, have been q pow
erful leaven in the bringing about of
truer instincts in dress.
Again, girls of delicate and refined
natures find that they are less subjected
to insoence and insult in the protection
of black garb, which appeals to the
better nature of men as possibly sugges-
tive of sorrow and loss. And last, and
most important of all, black gown is
always cheap gown in the end, and
this consideration is one OF moment to a
girl who is trying to support herself on
81 or $40 week. The wonder is how
thev dress at all on the wages they re-
ceive, and ones admiration and respect
increases for the average shop girl upon
reflection on her ways and means and
the result she accomplishes.
VAIN aioHS roulteeIith sIieeC VI
Twenty-third at 6 at night, or before
opening hours in the morning, discov-
ers the typical shop girl of today,
neatly appareled maiden with snug
little hat, dress suggestive of tailor
finish, style OF coif'ure the Fifth-ave-
nue. belle might do wei. to accomplish,
and bright, shrewd, intelligent face
indicative of ambition and well-deGned
purpose. II you could persuade her to
talk to you, though she is not as ap
proachable as one might suppose, and
very reticent about her own affairs, you
would find her wonderfully well in
formed on the topics OF the day, with
well-deined opinions backed up by we'll
grounded arguments on those things
which appeal to her particular condi-
tiCn of life-NeW York Sun