Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-04-24
DRESSING ON $40 A YEAR
A WOMAN SAYS SHE MANAGES TO
LOOK WELL ON LITTLE MONEY.

BY Close Economy and SkilIful SIsnage-
ment 1t May Be Done-Not q Cent Is
Wasted. However, Something About
Her Apparel.
How do l dress on $40 n year," ex-
claimed my friend. II fatter myself l do
it we'll. mean to look decent on every
occasion. don't 60 to many balls or par
ties, but l take in the theatre or a concert
once in Il while, and l never heard of my
escorts being ashamed of my appearance
yet. In the first place I make my own I'M
derclothes. Oh, l know l can buy pretty
things which fit nicely very cheap. out
they won't wear like the homemade arti-
Gle. l bought one of each garment 1 want
ed, ripped it up and used it for a pattern.
A paper pattern would ave been cheaper,
but it would have needed more fitting and
been harder to copy.
| get thirty-six yards of bleached cotton
cloth at eight cents a yard. This will
max me three suits OF understanding
drawers, corset cover, underskirt, long
skirt and nightdress. For trimming l Use
the knitted or crocheted stuff l make N.Y.
self if l have time to do such work. Some
times | buy a piece of cotton edging for
twenty cents and use that.
VARIOUS THINGS.
"In summer l wear black cotton hose;
in winter black merino. Three pairs of
each kind do me. l buy for 3715 cents a
pair or three for 81. In the summer I get
the jersey undervests; three of them cost
IS cents. They fit themselves to the form,
being seamless, and they laundry bcauti-
fully. For winter ~tlannels l pay 371a cents;
they are not all wool, but they are warm
and thick. Three of each will last me two
seasons l find.
Il wear low shOes,ln summer on all but
rainy days. They are chic, you know, and
the cost is about half that of boots. 4 gem
orally buy one pair during the summer at
Sl.25. The russell or morocco ones are bet
ter than the black ones at that price, and
they are what I generally choose. In the
fall | buy Il nice thick soled pair of Dongola
boots, FOR which 1 pay $50. wear slip.
pers at home. | get a pair for 81, and they
generally last two years.
"1n the winter, to save my white skirts,
l yea Il red lannel one. l make it myself,
and one lasts two winters. knitted edg-
ing, quilted lid, or even Il plain feather
stitched hem, finishes one nicely at the
bottom. Two pairs of rubbers are all |
wear out in Il year. l get good ones. l
can get a good pair of corsets for 81. AS J
seldom wear them at home, or in the sum-
mer, a pair more than lasts IL Year. AS for
hose supporters, | bought a set for twenty
nine cents, and the catches and buckles
from that pair are doing duty now. 1 buy
elastic ribbon and fix my own whenever
they need it, just transferring the nickel
fiXings, you know.
DRESSES AND GLOVES.
"My primrose cloth dress cost six cents
yard; it was a sort of cambria. l got ten
yards at Il bargain counter, made it with a
full skirt, leg O mutton sleeves, a full waist
and Il sash. My gray mohair cost me thirty
nine cents a yard. made it myself with
a plated skirt, full sleeves and q coat tailed
basque.
"A to draping skirts, l keep my eye on
the store windows where full costumes are
displayed, and from them l get lots of
ideas. About once a year l go to a good
dressmakcr IL have one dress cut-gener-
ally my winter wool frock, which is nv
best one. l pay So. 25 for the cutting. bast-
ing and draping, and get up with the
styles once a year.
"My sailor hat l trimmed myself. The
hat cost fifty cents; ribbon and some black
quilts brought the whole thing up to ST. %.
For five cents l got a white veil tina is
still good, and for thirty-nine cents a pair
of black silk gloves. l bought them at a
bargain counter, but they are thin and
silky just the same. I would not wear the
thick taffeta gloves which are generally
offered at that price, out if one watches
the stores one will find special sales of real,
silky, cheap gloves every spring.
My white frock was manufactured from
the crossbar muslin children's aprons are
made of. 1t was six cents d yard. I made
it with a full skirt, pulled sleeves, surplice
waist and sash. Around my neck, with it,
l tied a bit Of black velvet ribbon, and it
did for hot Sundays as we'll as for street
wear. For cold weather l have a fur cape.
l could have got me a pretty plush jacket
for about what the cape cost, but l should
have been obliged to get q second wrap in
the spring. For IS l nave Il pretty seal
plush cape which will wear two winters,
and which looks real stylish, if l that
bought it do say it. My bonnet is partly
old. l bought a frame for forty cents and
covered it myself with brown velvet, put
ting a puff up from the face.
THE SUMMARY.
"IO save my bOnnetS rainy days | nave
made myself Il Tam O. Shanter cap of black
"OloCSu. AoA l. Ca 1 pdlu Sl lUI d Dali
of black dogskin gloves, and for everyday
l cover my hands during the cold season
with black mittels which cost seventy-1ive
cents in the beginning, and nave lasted two
winters. They are knit of good quality
silk, and | lined the thumb and palm with
old black cloth, so that the friction in those
places hasn't made a hole yet"
While my friend talked l made jottings
in pencil. Here they are:
IS yards cotton cloth at 8 cents. S. s.
3 pair black cotton stockings. / O
3 pair black merinostockings. ........ l Ok
8 jersey undervcsts............. -. ...... II
} 3 sets winter ilaunels, 10 last two years, one
years wear OK
Summer shoes. 1 x
Winter boot
Slippers at 81. one years wear............ &
Flannel ss:rt, 4 yards flannel at 20 cents a
u