Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-20
DETAIL In DRESS
VAST IMPORTANCE OF THE
SMALL THINGS.
Business Women in Particular Should
Sc Careful That Accessories
Of the Toilet Are in Prop
er Shape.

Once upon n time this scribe was
travelling in Scotl-nd. and stopped for
service at a little church In the High
lands on summer Sunday evening.
The sermon was preached by an old
clergyman, who spoke in broad
Scotch dialect. and took for his text.
Beware Of the foxes. the little foxesi"
A quaint subject for a sermon. And
the good old divine laid stress upon
the little foxes" that attack one in
daily life. He spoke OF the little
things. the multitudinous little things.
and their relative significance; and
then went on 20 point out their ire
mendous Importance when considered
in relation TO the whole TO the sum to-
tai Of life
It's the little things that COUNT"
and it is the little things of dress that
really mako mp the whole, the sum
total OF ones appearance.
The head OF a large corporation had
occasion 20 advertise for stonogra-
pher Applicant after applicant for
the position was examined iu the pri-
vate Office Some were dismissed
with a few words. and out OF over 40
candidates but three were retained
20 undergo further test as TO their it
ness for the work
The president said: "You noticed
that there were some girls whom I
asked n they could take dictation in
some one or another f0re!cn language.
Well. IL was not that / require such
work. but merely that their appear
ance was against them. and I wanted
20 let them down easy. One girl had
a skirt with long train 10 IL. quito
unsuitable for q business Office. al.
though IL might be all right for a thea
ter party. Another had "A lace waist.
with lot of fancy ribbon fNiu~s. tina.
looked like an afternoon tea table.
Another showed gloves with her fin
gers sticking through for lack Of mend
ing. while another had her hair SO be-
frizzed and bccurlcd that she looked
moro Ike a toy terrier than a stenog-
rapher You noticed, doubtless. that
the three / retained for examination
had plain clothes. neat and tidy-al-
though. perhaps. they might not be
considered Ia the first flight OF fash
ion uptown. and the impression they
gave me was that of successful bust
ness women. Their hair was well
brushed. their collars ntted, their
shirtwaists set woll and their belts
looked trim and trig; and just guess
ed that their work would be like their
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. trim. trig and
businesslike throughout"
There Is no one who should be more
careful or pay more attention TO her
appearance than the business woman
OF to-day. Good taste in dress cannot
assert itself just as consDlcuously In
business garb as in dinner gown or
dressing trock. a weu-htted tailored
shirtwaist of some durable material
either a linen or madras. III wash ma
terials are liked; or one of mohair.
colleen poplin or a plain dark taneta,
II laundry bills are somewhat a con-
sideration-prcfcrab with a detacha-
BILE collar. since the collar soils so
much sooner than the waist Some ar
rangement or device to hold the shirt
waist and skirt together is necessary
10 the trim and uig set around the
waist that the present fashion de
hands; and a skirt well cut and short
enough to clear the floor all around
completes the costume. Where
touch of color is liked, a little butter
fly bow and ribbon belt TO match
Will serve 20 relieve the severity OF
the garb. without In the least detract-
Ing from the suitably plain appearance
OF the design. For example. very
pretty dark blue mohair shirtwaist
suit is furnished with sets OF cravat
and belt. Some are In plaid ribbons,
some in pale-blue velvet ribbon. while
little made bow tie is matched in a
belt OF bias armure OF brilliant tone
Of scarlet. which well sets of the SON.
Der unts Of the dark blue and does not
look in the least out of place. since
the little touch OF color is but a mere
hint