The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-09
Dressing Well
on SIS aMonth
Some Society Women Do 1t
on that Amount.
(BY HELEN WARDo


The woman OF average means. with $40
month 70 spend on clothes. often con-
siders herself badly used. She Is con-
adent that had she a little more 1t would
be possible to make fairly smart appear
ance.
But II she is a sensible woman. careful
planning and a striot eye to the shops are
all that need supplement the annual ex-
pend ture OF $500.
To be we'll dressed, every woman needs
two tailor suits year. one each spring
and fall These are not necessarily made
by tailor The shops display as good
ready made gowns at lower prices. Fitted
by the expert dressmakers In these cstao-
lishments, they are not easily dlstln-
guished from the more expensive gar
ments. Very good ready made gowns can
be purchased for $40.
A silk dress with plain trimmings can
be had for $40. This is for materials only.
Hats will be an expensive item, and II
is best to have them So A cheap hat de-
tracts immeasurably from swell costume
Summer lingerie and night gowns should
| be made by the woman herself Materials
cost almost nothing and wear better than
those used in ready made goods.
For summer dresses cheap materials an
swer Just as well as more expensive. These
dresses seldom outlast one season, and
quite as good effects can be obtained from
simple organizes and lawns. Quite often
It is possible for the woman to make these
dresses herself.
| II is task to prepare an exact list OF
clothing necessary for years wear, as 1t
is difficult to tell the requirements. For
instance, one woman IL hard on gloves,
thar ntA IN I'M
| st given here S11 are allowed for gloves.
This is supposed 10 pay for four pairs Of
winter gloves at $3.50 a pair, three pairs
of white gloves at 81 each. and two pairs
OF silk gloves for summer, at 81 each.
The shoe supply may seem small, yet
the price of shoes is low and good shoes
made Of good leather. and on fashionable
last, do not cost much. The list calls for
two pairs of walking shoes at $3.50 each.
tan ties So each, slippers 81 each, and
boudoir slippers 81.
The handkerchief supply is usually re-
plenished by gifts. Umbrellas and some
times wells come in the same way. SO It
IS not considered necessary to include
them.
Two tailor gowns, $40 each. $50
One silk dress................... 20
Two silk evening waists at Sc each. 80. IL
Two pique skirts for summer wear. -. 10
Six shirt waists in varying prices...... Q
Four summer gowns averaging So
each. 80. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 20
Two winter bats. enc $40. the other
20 ..... ...................... 20
, Three summer hats, SO, S. and s2..... II
Winter jacket or CAPE. Is
One silk petticoat. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Ia
Gloves Tor the year .................... II
Shoes for the year. IS
, Handkerchiefs, one dozen. 3
Six ties and stocks, averaging 81 each. 6
Two leather belts. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. ]
Ribbon for belts. stocks, etc. 0
Winter Undertaking two new suits. 6
} Summer underclothing made at home 4
Stockings; twelve pairs. tan and black
at three for 81; two pairs OF silk hose
for evening wear at 81 each. ........ 9
-Four summer pettiooats. made at
nome Observation-Disclosures.
Nlghtgowns. four made at home. ..... 2
Materials for two negllgees. ... 8
iolhl's .....s............... $3UO
The woman who Intends to dress we'll
for 5000 has place for everything. She
utilities paste board boxes for her best
bodlces; she has a roomy box for her
shoes, and special boxes for wells, hand
kerchiefs, ribbons and gloves. Each hal
has Its own nest OF crushed tissue paper
IN its own band box. She has hat and
bonnet brushes, clothes brushes and small
nail brushes, which she uses for cleaning
purposes. She mends every rip before il
has had time to be one; she brushes hel
shirts thoroughly after every outing: air.
her waists and hangs them each on III
own little wire hanger.
She stuffs her shoes with tissue pape,
TO keep them in shapei she has her cor.
sets cleaned frequently she sees l.-.. he,
dress shields are changed often. and sht
darns her stockings religlously. In fact
she enters into a species Of slavery which
at first seems rather hard, but in tim,
becomes fascinating.
With the expenditure Of time as vel
as money. she finds that she can pre-,
sent creditable appearance on what
she used to consider a slender allowance.