Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-11-07
How Mrs. Roosevelt Dressed on $500
Year.

Mrs. Roosevelt's declaration that a
woman can dress well on $500 year
was made, according to the Washing
ton correspondent of the New York
World, during a recent informal gath
ering at the White House in her pri-
vate drawing room, where she has been
receiving personal and official friends
during the last two weeks. On one Of
these occasions a wealthy Western
woman remarked that she had just
paid $40 for a silk underskirt, and
that she thought it cheap for the quail
ity and style she had obtained. Mrs.
Roosevelt exclaimed: "Why, would
pay scarcely more than that for silk
gown. That is a fabulous price, ex-
travagant beyond expression. H." She
added The plan I have followed
wherever I have lived is to engage a
conscientious modiste who will buy my
goods and make my garments. l get
better service and better material by
this plan. During my early married
life, and even later, my dressmaker
has managed to make me presentable
on $500 year"
One of the modistes who served
Mrs. Roosevelt during the time that
her husband was drawing salary of
$3, 800 year as Civil Service Commits
sioner says that she made a stylish
appearance and that she spent less
than $500 a year for her clothes.
Neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Roosevelt had
any private income of any extent, and
their little family came rapidly. The
cares and expenses incidental to these
conditions made serious havoc with
the extra money. Mrs. Roosevelt
frankly told her dressmaker what she
could spend year on her clothes and
asked cooperation in making ends
meet. According to this lady, the
present mistress of the White House
could calculate to penny the cost OF
her raiment. She insisted on every
thing being of the best quality, even
the "fnishings," hooks and eyes, bind
ings and belts. These finishings were
often used for several garments, as a
result of buying good material. Mrs.
Roosevelt always carefully laid away
buttons and ornaments, and many
times she appeared in a gown most
stylishly trimmed in ornaments which
had served several other garments.
Many Of her gowns were remade after
the second season. Her full-dress
costumes were always remade at least
twice, yet so careful was she Of them,
and so excellent was the material Of
which they were made, that she could
use them for skirts, or silk waists to
wear under jackets or to make dress
ing sacques. Mrs. Roosevelt is against
all extravaganza in hosiery, under
wear and the trihes which are so cost
ly. Her hats she frequently rsftted
herself, adding bird here and a bow
there and getting a stylish effect.
Another point was that the care
taken of clothes was the secret Of their
good appearance. She would change
her street gown the moment she en-
tered the house. AS che never al
lowed herself the luxury Of maid
until her husband succeeded to the
Presidency che would always brush
her gown before hanging it in the
closet.
Mrs. Roosevelt is partial to black
and white, and che is rarely seen in
colors. In her daily walks with her
children she wears a walking skirt Of
black broadcloth, which reaches her
ankles, and nobby jacket adorned
with buckborn buttons. These but
tons were made from buck which
the President shot in Montana, and,
according to Mrs. Roosevelt, they have
been in continuous use for 10 years on
hers and the children's jackets.
Her evening toilets are still mat
ter Of the future. She will go to
New York in a few dsys and will get
four evening gowns and three hand
some street costumes. For the first
time in her life this thrifty lady has
purchased such a number Of gowns.
She has, however; made estimates of
prices and her social secretary, Miss
Hagner, has been busy writing first
class modistes for estimates. One
thousand dollars is all that she pro-
poses to expend.