The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-01
THE SECRET OF THE SKIRT.

II AilE PtQIcIl VI q WOHAaAi oAbfS oASNta
ever be carried out. IT would be incom-
plete without fuller description OF the
dresses OF Scripturai heroines. and fash
ion plates dslineating the costumes Of the
succeeding ages would no doubt be added.
Man has shown his absolute fncapacity
for describing woman's dress in all
times. The sacred writer's carefully de-
tail buildings. give fair idea of soldiers
attire, and even enter into particulars as
10 dowries. but they never attempt to
describe womans dress. The Injunction
against women wearing the clothes of
men followed long after the time of Eve.
and the ancient chronicler leaves one to
suppose that the aprons OF the first hus-
band and wife were alike. The mother
OF the human race. to whom is traceable
so many OF woman's foibles as we'll as her
many virtues, may be trusted to have had
either a distinctive fringe or a decorative
ribbon. Aprons still form the chief article
In many feminine wardrobes beneath the
blazing OF tropical climes, but they
are ever embellished with beads and fanci-
ful trimmings, some OF the more primitive
being content with dried seeds dyed and
strung.
No less significant. however. than the
scarcity OF detail as 10 the robes of Bibli-
cal women is the invariable praise of
woman's beauty and an appreciation of
becoming costume. Poor Queen vashti's
fate was due as much to her beauty as
to her disobedience.
Woman has always designed her own
raiment. but man has universally by his
admiration encouraged grace and modesty.
The first simple robe tells the whole story
of mans reverence for that which con-
ceals while adjoining the female form, and
typifes his chivalric respect for the
sacredness OF woman's body. Modesty
charms more than beauty, bold disclosure
piques. but never enthrals. The graceful
outline OF falling, clinging drapery has
conquered too many generations to retire
for long before the strictly utilitarian.
Changing fashions force extremes which
are often angular, outre. and faddish but
the lines of beauty again assert them
selves, and the woman is best dressed in
the eyes of man whose distinctively wom-
anly draperies envelop the form. and with
half-hidden lace and mysterious ribbon
ties give promise of beauties undsclosed.
The bloomer is the extreme OF prevail
ing fashion. It is better than most fash
ions. which run to the extremes, like the
crinoline or the Mother Hubbard, because
1t is based upon commonsense need. Not
all the demands OF esthetic taste require
that for walking a woman should wear
skirt as long as in a drawing room,
whore the superfiuous but graceful train
is not unbecoming. A short, dropping
skirt, falling over gathered shoes and show
Ing a neat ankle and a trim foot, has
nothing of immodesty or ungracefulness
about it. AS much cannot be said for the
bifurcated skirt. which looks as odd and
unsuitable as the baggy trousers of Turk
ish women, or as the costume of a Roman
citizen OF the Julius Caesar age, or High
lander's kilt would look upon nineteenth
century man. So far the hygienic con-
slderations prevail a short. pleated skirt
Is fully as serviceable as boomers. What
| costume should underlla that outward gar
ment is not 10 be spoken OF. and need not
! concern those who are only talking Of the
appearance dress presents TO the eyes OF
the world.
The whole end ~ dress is % look pretty:
| otherwise \ blanket or an overcoat would
suffice. The chief consideration in design
| ing dress is 10 best display the points Of
| greatest beauty. Almost every woman has
| some good feature: face. form. neck. bust.
hand ar hat -sf
| OF the Creator can be and should be be-
/ comingly displayed; but the opportunities
( OF the ballroom need not be sought on
| the sidewalk. Appropriateness for the oc-
I casion affords the widest scope for wom-
/ anly taste.
/ The hloomer viii have its day, bat Il
/ viii never be popular. because Il is becon-
/ ing 10 so few. That VIII decide its fate:
/ woman VIII not resent being admired.
! she rather likes being wondered about.
/ she VIII even submit 10 being stared al.
! bat she Viii never subject herself to ridl-
( cule
/ Tho flowing folds Of the Grecian robe
may be modified or ampHned. the lace
/ bodice. frilled and ribboned. may alternate
! with the rounded outlines OF the smooth
/ fitting bust: the classic drapery Of shout
! der and waist yield 10 the curved lines OF
/ the scientific corset: but the soft and am
/ pie gsrmcntry OF the loom. with its grace
| OF tempting femininity. the gentleness and
| waviness or the EMBEDDING robe IT'S 'frou-
| frou" IN movement. Win be mans ideal
/ a. womaniIness til romance dies beneath
/ the ehIlls OF an aSlng world. and senti-
/ Inent no longer thrills the masculine heart