New-York tribune., 1908-03-09
AVOID FASHIONS LATEST DECREE.
NJ Worth Points Out Some Fatal Mistakes
in Womens Dress

oh. mesdames"' exclaims NJ Worth, of Paris.
That bette noire of fashioni Avoid it: turn away
from II. and in time you will wonder how it could
ever have terrified you.
Simplicity and moderation are the burden Of NJ.
Worths article Individuality IN Dress" in
''Harpers Bazaar for March DO order fash
ions that date Dress he advises. When all the
world Is wearing balloon sleeves. restrain your
II tight skirts are deemed the thing, insist
10 the dressraker that yours must have extra
breadth in it Frocks made IN this moderate way.
says NJ Worth. if they are beautiful and oecom-
ing and OF good materials, may be worn two.
three even four years with very little alteration,
or perhaps all.
With many women il is carelessness that makes
them look badly dressed They will not take the
trouble 10 suit the gown to the occasion They
Will 60 for example, TO afternoon reception
wedding even in tailor made attire because 1t
is my new frock and wanted to wear it''-because
Il had nothing else fit go in" the day
Gull All poor excuses, madame" says NJ
Worth, not TO be tolerated in any grade of
ciety." A governess, he points out, earning the
most modest OF incomes. be better dressed
than that-if she has little logic Each year
she will add something essential her wardrobe.
One year she buys q single evening costume, per-
haps, and a tailor made dress-both S well chosen
that they Will last her several seasons The next
year she invests in & big cloak for travelling and
motoring, and afternoon gown. The next year
II is lingerie and a peisnotr. and she keeps her
store replenished, and. by always wearing the
right thing at the right time, always looks well
dressed
CHANGING over magazine the other day. says
NJ Worth. 81 found illustration of the differ
ence between true and false beauty dress" On
one page was photograph of the stately young
American Duchess OF M The dress Of the
duchess-though the photograph was taken FIVE
years ago-''might have been made yesterday
since there nc iota OF departure the laws
OF real beauty 10 mar it The skirt was not
too tight TO be decent" the sleeves neither
very tight very loose On the next page was
''so-called fashion plate depicting the OF
the day, just five years ago. And 'Oh, those
modes" exclains NJ. Worth How ridiculous they
did look! One was lost in wonder that women
could ever have consented TO grotesque a
figure in public private
/ good plan for the woman OF small means
TO make one type OF dress her ovr but she must
be that the style with which she Identifies
herself is suited her. she must not hesitate
10 change Il when her mirror tells her that she
has grown old for il. Picture galleries are full
of ideas for the costUnlier, but while women who
dress habitually like old pictures create an indi-
vtduelty for themselves they be great ladies
TO adopt the plan with success. says NJ Worth.
Ordinary women do we'll to avoid appearance
that Is conspicuous, though beautifully So
Still there historical vogues in dress OF
which he admits the advantage The Puritan col
lar viii suit the girl with a soft round throat,
and the Tudor ruff is kind the whose
neck is getting stTingy; stately women may
the Medici collar but let the squatty woman be-
OF it. Nothing viii emphasize her squat
tiness, and the craze for the Medici collar few
years ago was the cause, says M Worth, OF the
most ludiCrous in good taste and effect
1t Is refreshing to find that this great arbter of
dress approves the Of pins. Not only that. but
he backs his opinion with the practice of the
Queen Of England This royal lady relies upon
pins greatly. he says, and she is acknowledged
TO be one of the most cleverly gowned women
all Europe Such women make the deftest altera-
tions in their toilets, correcting short-wast-
ed appearance by q sash made TO point downward
in front, overlong by the same device
applied the way
N Worth has e shrewd idea that many women
Of to-day not quite sane. Else why he argues
have they such an extraordinary craze for the
and strange costume They are obsessed
by that constant turmoil OF change which 1. the
jsrrinS note of the twentieth century every
partment Of life"
Ny advice TO the American girl is abjure the
dernier crf. the latest thing not worth your
notice" says NJ Worth; and then he utters an
even greater heTesy- Take my word for it.
DANES fashion is friend OF women. but their
pitfaH and their enemy, 20 be conquered by stud
led avoidance" Though all the feminine world
appears decoIlete balls and parties the sensi-
BILE girl who knows that her neck bony will
fling conVentionalty 10 the winds and robe her
SELF for the dance in toilets with transparent
lace chemisette and collar So will she her
self from being ugly sacrifice the altar of
fashion