The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-10
OF INTEREST TO WOMEN
HOW THE FRENCHwOMAN MAKES
HERSELF ATTRACTIVE.
Why Women Do Not Profit by Exer-
cise-The Servant Girl Question
New Fancy Work.

The Frenchwoman takes her small break
fast in her room and is never visible" ex-
cept TO intimate friends before noon, says
a Paris letter. All this time in her room or
about the house she is wearing the dainty
peignoir. matinee or bright muslin wrapper.
Her petticoats for the street are never made
longer than ankle length. the lace and silk
flounces being considered far too precious
to be allowed TO touch the ground. 1t is
so with the care of the dress skirt, which
is held many inches out of the dust and dirt
of the street.
The up-to-date Frenchwoman selects one
particular color and makes il the keynote
of her whole scheme of dressing. Mauve
pale blue and coral are her favorite colors,
and when one is introduced il appears in
her blouses, dress trimmings, petticoats,
parasols, waist belts, cravats and hats, the
subsidiary tones being neutral gray, white
or black. However, before adopting any of
these colors as her livery she makes sure
that it is becoming and complimentary.
The average Frenchwoman is not blessed
with good looks, but she trims herself so
cleverly that the effect is most attractive
and delusive.
The study of the lines of the figure, the
adjustment of the belt, the dainty finish
of the neck band the easy pose of the head.
carriage and walk are adjuncts by no
means to be despised. AS a nation the
French seek all the beauty there is in an
object. and if they succeed in finding but
little, use that little to the very best ad-
vantage. A Frenchwoman's toilet is al
most her religion; therefore her first duty
70 &c r,oi
ished until it would seem there was no room
for improvement. The poorest peasant
bringing her wares to market arranges her
couture in such a manner as TO make
amends for the hat she does not possess.
The well-dreSSed FrenchWoman may be
luXuriant in her taste, but it is a kind that
never approaches cheapness. There Is
certain 'well-groomed well-tubbed air
that makes her appear the embodiment OF
cleanliness When dressed for the street,
theater or social function, spotless is she
that one would think she had, hgurativey
speaking, stepped out of bandbox. Her
gown fits perfectly, every fold gather in
the skirt being in the correct place. Her
hat is placed at a charming angle; the veil
hts without quicker over the face; not
hair is out of position 1t has long been a
saying with the French that if a woman be
well gloved and shod she is dressed for any
occasion. This may not be altogether true.
but IL has much to do with the success of
the ensemble.
The Frenchwoman is nothing If not femi-
nine, and if her clothes should ever escape
all that is trim and dainty, then her cos
tune falls wide of the intention. After
long study she knows just what is becom-
ing. what suits her individual style best,
and she will for that very good reason cling
TO certain modes until something else that
will bring out her good points has been in
vented. One may be surprised to learn that
this is the case in Paris where most of the
styles originate. but it is indisputable, new
ertheless. Underneath it all there may be
method in the Madness for every sou is
made to go as far as human means will or
ganize. Clothes are looked upon as invest
ments, the interest of which will have to
pay as long as possible, and the principal
to be literally turned over and over until
there is absolutely nothing left.
1t may be for that reason that the French
woman has an entirely different set of
clothes for the house and for the street.
Her gowns are carefully folded soon
the dust is removed, and placed in shelves
or boxes in which there are Sachet bags.
The latter are placed between the layers,
the French idea being that the clothes of
every woman should emit some delicately
sweet Odor, even as the flower radiateS its
rare perfume. There is never a mixture of
sachets, one particular odor being adopted
and used to the exclusion of all others.
The Frenchwoman's clothes are never
hung, as such proceeding surely stretches
the seams as we'll as produces ugly creases.
There is a place for every article of attire
and each item of dress is to be found there
box for gloves, bags for shoes and shelves
for petticoats and gowns. Some French
women keep their best gowns in separate
boxes where numerous sachet bags are
slowed.
Most Parisians are dark, and, that COM
pleXion being best set off by black the
shade is much worn here. The couturiere
will tell you that more than half the gowns
he fashions are of black There is nothing
that whitens out the complexion to the ex-
tent and gives the figure a more slender
effect than black; and again, Ii adds height
"a feature sought for by all the Latin race.
II the Frenchwoman does not wear black
on the street 1t is some very dark shade
and the gown is made as plainly as pos
sible.
The Frenchwoman has reduced her ward
robe to such a science that she knows ex-
actly where and when and how to replenish
With her the pursuit of the ideal in dress
on a small income has become almost as