Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-22
The Fallacy Of Fashion.


ticular branch of sport.
The Fallacy Of Fashion.
Miss Phoebe Throstle, In Quality
street saws: "rhefe is a satisfaction IN
being dressed in the latest fashion that
even religion cannot give" Thousands Of
women will testify to the truth of this
SAYING. And yet there is another view OF
the question which Miss Phoebe Throstle
did not mention, but which is, neverthe-
less, as eminently true
There is a satisfaction in being dressed
according to ones own individuality
which no amount of fashion can give.
This is a truth which some women are
in danger of forgetting.
/ once knew a woman who, to my mind
was always perfectly well dressed. Size
was not rich. Indeed, she often made her
own clothes, and they were never eXpeil-
sive. But she was always exquisite.
Her gowns were always more or less
alike. Gray, white and lavender were hel
colors for summer. black for winter
There was never Il look of aggressive sly
lishness about her, but neither did she
ever look like a fashion plate or dressed
up shop girl. L once asked her the secret
OF her invariable success in her gowns,
and she said:
AS a girl | realized the great import
ance of clothes in a woman's life, and
set myself to study the subject for my
self. 1 never had much money to speno
ON clothes, so from the outset | had IL
make my plans simple; but | put large
amount Of brain in them. / knew that
certain colors became me, so decided
to cling to them, rather than risk failure
in experiments. .
Il knew that certain general lines suit
ed my face and figure, so | made up my
mind that my dresses should always be
moulded more or less ON them, with
changes to keep within the limits of fash
ion You would be surprised to see how
easy it is to adapt one general design TO
the changing standard of the style and
l can wear a gown three times as long as
another woman who goes in for extremes
BLACK always seemed to me appro-
pirate for the street, and restful, besides
| in that it approaches closest to the Con-
ventional costume for women. So my
street dresses and thick winter dresses
are always black. Pink and pearl gray
| used to be my light colors, but OF late
years l have substituted lavender fol-
pink
Il have my summer frocks very simple
so that / may have more of them, ano
can have them washed freely. A little
| old and very fine lace which I possess
| does duty every year, worn in slightly
varying ways. My collars and cuffs | al.
! ways make myself. They are kind OF
needs now and then, and they mark, by
| their tastefulness and freshness, the per
| feet lady.
"A pretty collar, of original design and
carefully worked, will give touch to q
plain black gown which no amount OF
expensive style could attain. And
moreover, it shows personality. 1t is an
expression of myself.
THAT in word is what try for IN
| my clothes-the expression of my owr
personality"
And she succeeded This is what cal
perfect dressing-dainty, appropriate
| thoughtful. Why won't more women try
| for it?
| We Americans are so initiative and SC
| lacking in originality that the very idea
| of such an innovation would make mosi
| of my young lady friends pompadours
stand on end. And yet. dear young ladies
| the French women, whose taste in dress
you break your necks and pocketbooks tc
initiate, do that very thing.
They are original They do not conform
| to any castiron mode. but give theil
trains some play in dressmaking. Hence
that je ne sails quot about French gown
which defieS copying.
Now, why not be French dressmakers
yourselves? Study the subject. Become
artists in it. If you do not want to dc
the manual labor yourselves. hire the
hands to do it for you. But put your owr
brains into every dress you wear. Find
what is becoming and wear it.
1t may distress you at first to lose you
place among the job lot of dolls whicI
the dressmakers turn out to strut In
Fifth avenue every season. 1t may be-
some comfort to you, however, not to
goes, chewing gum on corner in COM
pany with other fashion plates, gotten up
cheaply to initiate the SWEETEST dress
erS.'
And, what is more, you will be express
ing yourself in your clothes-if there is
anything in you to express. Your men
friends will admire you the more for it.
Men are creatures of habit and like what
they are used to. How often do we hear
a father or brother say:
Don't put on that new rig. / don't
like you in it. Wear that brown, or green
or whatever it may be dress that you had
last year. That's the prettiest thing you
have
But, heavens, 1t is not in the style!'
isn't it?' says the poor, perplexed man.
well, then have one that's in STYLE but
something like il. 1t was becoming
Now. the truth is, the man was used
to you in that dress. hence ne liked it, 1t
was you to him. Men hate anything tina,
breaks into their habits. Let the men
they will come back to you with delic-
ious feeling of rest after the Kaleidoscope
changes which they see each season work
among their girl friends.
Above all, though, avoid extremes.
Because you are resolved not to be a
fashion plate, don't turn deaconess
Don't adopt costume or wear big
sleeves in small sleeve year, or any
other such strongminded nonsense.
Adopt the happy medium, and let that
medium become you.
There is the whole secret.
Your looks will gain by it.
Your character will gain.
Your pocketbook will gain immensely.
And best of all, you will be saved that
inevitable nervous breakdown and trip to
Philadelphia which lies in store for ev-
cry American woman of today. and which
is brought on by the desperate effort to
keep up and to live everybody else :
life instead of living your own and being
yourself.