Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-16

it off at night. I should be simply, as the
old-fashioned name implies, .'stay" to the
body, holding it in comely form and making
a smooth harmonious surface over which to
fit the gown. Don't buy poor ones. If you
have a naturally good figure a cheap corset
won't fit you; if you have poor figure no
dressmaker can make it better unless you
give her good corset to fit over. Leave
everything under So to the dress reformers.
A caprice of fashion in these later years
has suggested underclothlng and corsets of
various tints and fabrics eliminating in
black silk. During one of my visits to
Paris I allowed myself to be persuaded into
buying some sets of black silk raiment, in
cluding a corset, but did. so merely to Sc
cure memento of a vagary OF the mode
sure soon to pass away; for however pretty
and piquant rose, or blue, or scarlet, or
black may be in contrast with a soft, white
neck and arms, nothing satisfies the eye, OF
soothes the conscience of good taste, like
creamy white in cambric and lace and en-
broiderv. One. however, must here make
an exception in the matter OF hose, which
should, 10 my mind, never be white, unless
in harmony with some especial costume.
DON'T BUY CHEAP BOOTS.
Boots, again, are a matter where one may
not judiciously economic. Be your foot
pretty or ugly, be sure you will spoil it both
as to appearance and feeling by wearing
cheap, and, therefore, ill-ftting boots. II
you have slippers let them be chronic in.
valids, never leaving the bedrooni It is
very nice and com 'ortable to have pair to
slip into as you go to your bath and ward
robe, or sit at your toilet table at night, but
there ends their appropriate use.
So having disposed of what may be called
the confidential portion of a woman's toilet,
let us consider those outward and visible
signs" by which the world will judge wheth-
er she is we'll dressed or not.
AS to material. So many women seem to
fancy that very cheap silk is necessarily
better than q good woolen or even cotton
fabric. Here is little secret: Any one
accustomed to think of such Things, seeing
you in that silk would perceive that you
could not afford to buy a good one and had
to put up with the second choice or the third,
but, seeing the good wooden, would take it
for granted that you prefer it to silk, and
that you were able to buy a very good one
and trim it accordingly.
Another suggestion is this: Let each year
look out for itself, and only provide gowns
and wraps enough at once for that season.
A street dress, ii tailor made, or at least in
the plain and somewhat severe style suited
10 q OT6SS, one or Two OF
evening dresses, and pretty house dress
are all that anybody needs Tor one season
even in society, and these should be renewed
each year, and made in the latest style Of
the day.
DON'T FRowN ON NEW FASHIONS.
A great many persons always object to
any new fashion. No. let US adopt the new
fashions while they are new, say I, and lead
rather than follow the field, unless we are
resolved never to adopt any change at all,
and in that case better to don the Sister of
Charity's costume at once. But if you
would really be stylish and abreast Of the
mode, have few gowns at time and do not
try to make last years gown answer for this
year. And whatever you do with the old
gowns, let me implore you not to try to wear
them out at home! Any man is justified in
divorclng VIE who wears dirty fnery at
home, and makes her evening dresses serve
as wrappers for the breakfast table.
Then one final point, upon which I most
strenuously insist, is this: Every woman has
her own style, and she never will be well
dressed until she has learned what it is, and
learned to humor it and encourage it. Are
you tall, straight and of pain ul thinness?
Don't wear stripes or redingotes or tailor
made wraps. Are you quite the reverse?
Eschew draperies and fuffiness about the
shoulders, and horizontal trimmings.
Mrs. FRANK LESLIE.