The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-14
WARDROBE'S REQUIREMENTS
FEW THOROUGHLY GOOD DRESSES WILL ENABLE THE AVER
AGE WOMAN TO APPEAR AS WELL DRESSED AS HER
y WEATHER. NEIGHBOR

i
Rev Marie Jenney of Des Moines re-
Gently discussed the question of dress be-
fore the Unity club of that city. After
noting that the tendency of each age
seemed to be to make styles more elab-
crate, she made plea for simplicity IN
dress. She made one very interesting
statement in regard to the wardrobe
needed by a woman in order 10, appear
we'll dressed. The adoption of her idea
that four dresses would provide a woman
with all that was absolutely NECESSARY
would be great relief to women of mod
crate means that are constantly strug-
CLING and straining to keep up with their
wealthy neghbors who are abundantly
able to afford a more ample wardrobe,
and whose social demands require a larger
one.
The four gowns named by Miss Jenney
as a necessity for every. woman were
tailored gown, an evening gown, a house
gown, and neat one of calico or any
cotton material to wear when one is per-
forming ones domestic duties.
number Of Minneapolis women, con-
suited upon this question: found it very
interesting and discussed it with ANNA
ton. They thought Miss Jenney's list
little vague, and while several agreed
with it in the main, attention was called
to the fact that it made no provision for
separate waists and skirts that make up
such an important part Of Women's ward
robes now. Also that the term tailored
gown is very elastic nowadays. ranging
all the way from the severest short skirt
and nlannish stout coat to a trailing
and much-trimmed cloth gown suita BILE
for all OCCASIONS except strictly full dress.
However. with the general Interpretation
that her meaning was a suitable street
gown. a visiting gown, an evening gown
and working gown for the house 1t was
admitted that the list was quite sufficient,
added, The multiplication of gowns
would be mostly variations upon these es-
sentials. 1t was agreed that to be we'll
dressed meant that ones costume was tc
be well made, up-to-date, fresh and wei
kept The very limited wardrobe sug-
gested will enable the woman of small So
cial demands to look quite as we'll on q
few occasions as the woman Of unlimited
resources; but for the woman who goes
out much duplication is necessary or al
least supplementing with a considera bic
supply Of goods skirts and waists.
TWO New Gowns a Year.
All the women familiar with judiciouS
economies in dress were of the opinion
that two three thoroughly good cos
tunes a year would supply amply the
needs of of the average woman. One wo
man made her suggestion a definite one
that with a handsome tailor suit and G
new evening gown a year a wardrobe
could be quite we'll kept up. with the ex-
ception Of few simple things for the
house that could be made at home witt
ordinary skill or provided at small expense
A few shirt waists would be a necessary
part of the tailor suit that in nearly al
instances now consists only of a coat ant
skirt. This plan of but two good dresse:
year contemplated the use of the hand
some tailor gown for visiting, church ant
all ceremonial OCCASIONS that did not re
Quire full dress. This would do very vel
for the woman who does not need or doe
not care for lownecked gowns and who's
full dress costume is of the dinner dres
variety, rich and handsomely made, bu
either with a. net yoke some trinlmin,
that will permit it to be worn either in tn
evening Or for elaborate afternoon at
fairs. n .. .'z.
With the buying only of handsome an6
trailing tailor gowns, the woman in ques
ton had in mind the selection of models
that would permit the suit being stripped
of it's more delicate trimmings and short
ened after a year or two Of service to de
duty as a plain and serviceable walking
gown for shopping and marketing This i.
a possible arrangement but it is rathe
more feasible to buy in the first place
the plain and inexpensive short watkins
gown and the handsome Il tailor gown