Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-10
FORTUNES IN DRESS
Five Thousand a Year is a
Small Sum.
A $4,000 OUTFIT
ONLY INTENDED FOR TWO SUM-
+ .MER MONTHS.
The Trifing but Necessary Incidentals
That Increase the Expense
Account.

Written for The Evening Star by Mrs. A. T.
Ashmore.
When a mans rich his mind runs to
clothes-not for himself, but for his wife.
Up to the day when the wheel Of fortune
turns millions into his pockets, he may
preach and practice economy, but from
the moment he realizes that by some sudden
chance he has landed in millionaire row, he
turns a steady stream of golden shelzels
into the hands of eager modistes, tailors,
milliners and the great men Of a dozen diff
ferent trades.
Why? Not because ne loves his wife any
better than in the old days when ambition
burned high and funds were scarce, but
because. the luxurious gowning Of this same
wife heralds his altered estate. He may
limit her personal allowance, but he will
not frown upon her tailor's bills. He may
furne over a florists account. but he will
sign his check In four figures to milliner
Of national reputation. In short, he Is
willing to pay almost any price for gowns
to announce that he can afford to spend
money as do other men whose class he
has entered.
riety in the matter of clothes by reason of
their exquisite taste or their daring eccen-
tricities, but the majority get talked about
by mere expenditure of money.
Ask woman OF the smart set whether
she can dress on 5000 a year, and she
Will look at you with surprise that is any
thing but mild, and under her breath will
say: How bourgeoise! The dear child is
Shockingly behind the times!
The requirements of the woman of today
the absolute necessities. from her point of
view-would have been considered Incredible
fifty years ago. Perfection Of detail de-
mands expense, and an expense that knows
no limit, for not the smallest article of the
coctume but must needs bear the hall mark
of perfection. There must be no false note.
such as may be conveyed by imitation
laees: machine imitation of hand work; last
years cut where this years shows so slight
deviation that only to the trained eye is
it discernible; a color scheme not Of the
latest. and SO on Indefinitely. until the
mystery of clothes seems beyond ordinary
compreh nsion.
Mi,ady millionaire must have elaborate
house gowns. Her matinee and simple
morning gowns must be trimmed with ex-
pensive lace or fur, according to the time
Of year. Her bath wrapper must be of the
finest material, her bath slippers trimmed
with fur her muIes' of quilted satin-and
here may be cited trif1ing item of eX-
pense in boots, shoes and slippers. The
fashionable young man of today cannot get
along with less than forty eight pairs of
shoes, and, of course, the woman needs
more. when her evening slippers are in
cluded
A Costly Item.
Lingerie is one Of the most costly items
in milady's wardrobe. For the moment
Dame Fashion DEGREES that only the finest
of hand embroidery and lace may be used
on linen SO fine that the proverbial cobweb
seems coarse in comparison. 1t is also de-
creed that embroidery and lace shall both
be in representation of some favorite flower
or in distinctive pattern. OF course, while
each year sees new fashion for each and
every garment, there must needs be pro-
vided number sufficient to stock a trous-
seau according to the oid-fashioned ideas
Of what rousseau should contain-two
dozen of each.
The silk petticoats. one for every gown
and several to be worn with any gown;
dressing jackets, wrappers and stockings
galore must not be forgotten, for they rep
resent a goodly outlay.
Collecting handkerchief is most fash
iona Bile paStime, and when So apiece is
thought not expensive, an additional and
not inconSiderable item can also be incud-
ed. This may be indefinitely Increased
when the additional cost of the erabroider-
ed monograms and insertions Of lace are
added.
Corsets are also large item of expense
The shapes and styles are being constantly
improved upon and more and more expen-
siye materials are used in their construc-
tion Twenty-Five dollars Is not considered
large price to pay for pair of corsets,
and, in order to be well cersetsd there
must be sufficient number to change with
each style of gown. Two Dozen pair
Of being well turned out. according to the
modern idea. -
Hats-but here the field of conjecture
stretches away into a limitless space.
Spring, summer. autumn and winter have
their especial shapes, colors and styles A
hundred hats year. each one rot costing
less than $50, involves considerable outlay,
but necessary one. for the hat Is a most
important part Of the costume.
Gorgeous Wraps.
Wraps for day and evening, drifting and
auto coats for the different seasons. and
the theater and evening wraps. which are
not to be COMPOUNDED with the ball gowns,
are Invariably costly and as Invariably re-
newed every season. Even If the shape OF
the coat be much the same, Fashion de-
creee a changing color and forthwith the
garment IL oid-fashiened.
Neckwear, which includes not furs alone
but boas and capes OF lace. silk chiffon