The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-08
WOMEN GAN DRESS
ON SOS PER, But
IT'S BAD TO LET HUBBY KNOW IT,
THEY SAY.
Discussion of Edward Atkinson's Esti-
mate ELECTS Ideas AS to How the
Same Economy in Clothes Could Be
Better Practiced- Minneapolis
Women Feel About It. IL

Don It encourage husbands to think
Edward Atkinson IS estimate that 500
a year is all that is necessary for a
woman's clothing is fair or desirable.
1t. will make a lot of trouble for women
whose financial perplexities are already
grievous enough said an elegantly
gowned woman: whose broad sympathies
her a knowledge of. conditions greatly
differing from her own. ; :
- never tried dressing on so small
an allowance as that, but have at
times held my dress expenditure
down rigidly. 1t is certainly true that
the necessities for decent and presenta-
BILE dress are not the items that figure
most largely in bills for. clothing. I
am willing to admit that . a woman
could dress in comfort and even pre-
sentably, for the figure he names, but [
OF circumstances, for it cuts out the
opportunity for the expression Of a
woman 8. natural and refining love of
beauty ;. -. =. ~ :,ss.. -.
.'"There is quite difference between
the average expenditure on clothing and
what may be done on OCCASION re-
marked a friend who was listening.
MANY a womanE in a fnancia! pinch
will pretty nearly eliminate the item OF
q year or two to tide matters over. She
needn It suffer, either if she had fair
|ly equipped wardrobe to begin with
That leads many young married couples
into wrong calculations of the cost OF
living, for bride is almost sure To
be completely and literally. fitted out
with all the requirements Of dress and
shouldn' It need much additional for
year at least.' - - - .
pressed by women at Mr.. Atkinson Is
reports and it is punctured in many
particulars. His estimates both OF
what a woman requires for wardrobe
and for the false economy Of cheaE
goods on which it: is evidently based
are ridiculed. A reader, of T h
Journal writes to call attention tc
the fact that Mr.. Atkinson's list does
not include a single dress skirt except
the skirts Of the cotton shirt waist
suits and the only winter underwear
provided is vests. ~
Flaws Picked In Estimate.
| eyes, a woman could dress herself
decently on Mr.. Atkinson g allowance
said "a woman dealer in wearing ap
parel, who is herself a model of correc'
and !, practical dressing, . but only s
very good manager could do. it will
credit to her appearance. No .wis'
! woman would undertake it on the basis
of shabby, cheap things such as tn.
quantities of articles named show ha
been done in his calculation Instead
she would buy the best of everything
but Of the least conspicuous charac
ter; everything would be staple
! which come at a minimum price. =:
| g For example she would not ~bu.
| J ir1r 70 mil
need any such number of the. ,cheapes
and most fimsy kind. For the price, o
twelve. such she could do as L do,J &c
two Of the best plain ones. She Wi.
then have the fundamental Requirement
u for good fitting clothes and; these tW
pairs will last her the four years. = l
shoes two pairs of good ones a yea
are ample for service, more are only
luxury In short my suggestion woul
be the cutting down in quantity an
the bettering in quality. One thorol
good manufactured suit would do ser1
ice for -four years and this would Gu
out the necessity for at least two Of tn
outer garments: With a thoroly goo
quire except heavy, long, rough e.
ira coat that lasts indefinitely and on
very simple%light summer wrap.
AIS as--.Only one Hat a year.
"There are plenty of well-dresse
women, who do not have to economic,
that for real use do not average NOR
than one hat a year, but it is goo
one. Such a hat always lasts two ses
sons and the one I have on is going thr
it's fifth season and is perfectly goo
and suitable to wear. with my clot
suit. To be sure it cost $12 to begi
with, but in the end it is cheap.
} "The working woman especial
should wear woven union suits instea
, of cotton underwear, for it will say
> her not only in outlay on the garment
| but largely in laundry. I keep goin
| for myself two substantial silk and Iii
en- petticoats for. change, buying on a
} average one year. A good deal of tt
> waste in dressing comes in having Q
hand a. lot of clothing that: is not j
use.' ga, ....,s -
r In the knots of women chatting aftt
: the Thursday Musical meeting yeste
| day Mr.. Atkinson's estimate was di
> cussed. "Well, I don't want to tei
/ his conclusions; it would only be sens
BILE under the stress Of necessity sal
one officer.
"And you re just the one to do it,
rejoined another prominent membe
"because you are the marvel of all 20,
! friends for the way you concoct wol