Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-26
WHAT CLOTHES DO
Does Dress Make the Man or
the Woman?
GIVES PEACE OF MIND
OFTEN A CRUCIAL TEST IN A So
GETTY WAY.
What Modistes Have to Say on This
Always Timely
Topic.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Do clothes give an air to the girl? Or
does the girl give an air to the clothes?
Opinions divided \ famous gown
maker Of New York, whose name is the
hallmark of all that is good and smart,
says: Give me a woman who can carry
my gowns well; a bad figure will ruin the
most artistic effort"
Then another will say to a despairing
matchmaking mamma: Yes, her figure
is very bad. She walks atrociously.
WretchedIv round shouIdered. but depend
upon it. madam. trust me. In my gowns
your daughter Will rival the most stunning
women at the play Trust to me-"
Frocks and frilIs, Laces and furbelows,
These are magic words that beat a tune Of
glaGness on the dainty eardrums of all the
fair daughters Of Eve. All women Lore
pretty gowns. They say-people who ought
to be ashamed Of thenselves-that a con-
sciousness OF being we'll dressed imparts a
peaCefu,ness 10 the human heart that re-
IigiCn is pvwerless 10 give. Now, women
know that these cynical people are correct
in this view. \ weII-known woman. who
has been out long enough to know a little
about htaTtaChes and blue devils. said the
other day: when I want cheering up
gown myself in my best creations. If
have been annoyed in any manner. II an
old admrer suddenly announces his en-
gagernent. or if rival dcbutaute suggests
that facial massage Is good for wrinkles,
why. I just put on stunning new gown,
and I assure yCu the effect is magical
Ever since Eve made such a fuss collect
ing beautiful fig leaves women have had
weakness for beautiful clothes. Once in
while one finds a sweet young debutante
surrounded by q crowd Of admirers, and
from the midst an impecuntous one is
heard 10 sigh:
He Thinks He Can.
'I can support a simple little maid who
is content with such simple little gowns"
Know. gay Lochinyar-out-Of-th e-west,
that simple little gown on that sin pie
little maid cost larger figure than Your
whole months salary. These simple little
muslin effects are often the browning glory
Of the gown makers art. The same g.r!
in dress II cheap material would make
very doubtful appearance. CIUtHeS make a
woman. in so far as they have a great et-
feet on her feelings and department. Many
i woman who is obliged 20 wear seedy,
wCrn-cuc. winter gown. while waiting for
her new spring love" will sulk along,
with her head hanging down. and quite lose
the air Of savOir taire which Is her specal
charm. But take the same girl in her
iressmaker's best effect, and she Will
sweep through the main thorOughfare of
the Waldorf-Astoria with the air Of
princess.
clothes alter a woman's very nature. A
girl cannot help being dashy and perky
with a gorgeous new white plume or
train that sweeps the ground, but in an old,
sloppy skirt the same girl would look IKE
4 ChD-r maid. who wants to slump DehlEd
the first lamp post on the street. You can
ind sterling merit, honest worth, deep af-
lection mOtherly virtues and all that sort
Of thing under ill-httiHg clothes, but FOR
real satisfaction. to bring out the best
points in a woman and to put the happy
look on her face, that even her first sue
cessful love affair does not bring. she needs
the rustic Of silk. the richness of velvet
and pIumes, and the satisfaction of a good
cut.
Has Had Experience.
One Of the best gowned women of the
Florodora company, who posed for these
pictures. says: "A girl is positively two
persons in two different gowns. \ loving
and observaEt husband would not know his
wife il he found her wearing the chore
maids Clothes"
Would you recognize in this stunning ball
gown the same girl who stands opposite in
the sloppy-lOOking shirt waist? Who would
fancy that this well-poised woman. per-
fectIy gOwned for calling. is the same wo-
man as her yis-a-yis in the ill-fitting street
clothes? Where is gone the straight and
shapely back? Hidden by bad-ftting gar
ment. Where is gone the lithesome effect of
the slender figure? Hidden by impossible
folds
Does the gown make the woman Of fash
ion? Or does the woman of fashion make
the gown? II is as the old yachtsman said
''All in the cut of the jib." Do you fancy
that Ninon D. Enclos captured that bushel
9f hearts she is credited with in a dowdy
gown? Do you imagine that Helen of Troy
won Paris heart with cheap-looking hat ?
By the way, did the fair Helen wear hats ?
Did they have them in those days? II they
jidn't, she lost one of woman's chief de-
lights.
A Story to Prove It.
A story told by a weu-known society