New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-22
lEE8R2E FASHION Ara F )RNOLIT2k&Rha8
MISAPPLIED ENERGY
The amateur Seldom Produces
Satisfactory Clothes.

MY cousin Florence" remarked the
woman who purchases all her clothes READY
made TO save bother, took a course IN
dressmaking and millinery last winter ana
learned how 70 make her own clothes
would not mind her learning II she only
would not persist in doing 1t. but you see,
Florence is a faddist. and OF practcai
turn OF mind: she persists in applying any
science she has taken the trouble 70 ac-
quire II she takes up burnt wood her
friends are .deluged with Christmas pres
ents Of plaques and glove boxes II her
fad ,s pierced brass or baskets specimens
of her handiwork are distributed with
equal liberality.
And now it's clothes. She not only
makes her clothes. but she wears them,
and she not only wears them, bur she calls
upon her friends TO admire. And am oy
nature a truthful woman. Now, Florence
always used to have pretty clothes; she
used 10 put herself in the hands of a good
dressmaker and abide by her taste But
now she has discovered the horrible fasci-
nation that seems 70 lie I'm creating cos
TUNES out OF cast of clothing that in days
Of wore would have been either turned
over IN the ever grateful Salvation Army
or DISPATCHED to worthy. and II is 10 be
hoped, Understanding poor relatives up
state.
I'm not denying her results might be
credltable enough at the hands or some
body whom necessity forced TO that sort
Of thing I admit +; Is quite marvellous
how she can rip to pieces an old style
pleated skirt. clean f. press II on the wrong
side. and from apparently hopeless ruins
evolve a neat little one-piece dress with
sailor collar and a side frill. But as
for looking Ike a new dress OF new ma
terial made by a competent dressmaker
or a good taiIor-it doesn't But either she
thinks II does or else she is so overcome
by her own astuteness in fashioning the
costume al all that she does not care.
She goes among her best dressed friends
and wears that frock with the greatest
pride
she is jus. as hopeless when il comes
TO millinery. When she wants hat she
does not go downtown and nose around FOR
something that Is fairly becoming, does not
cost too much and does not scream az her
other clothes. She goes into the attic and
trlumphantly produces a dusty VelVet
shape. which she alters by raising the
crown ard cutting away the brim into
something that ever so remotely suggests
thhs years model She utiizes the some
what worn satin facing on another old
bonnet and the faded crimson flowers on
still a third From some other reconcile
spot she unearths couple OF ostrich feath-
ers. and then with fingers actually itching
for the Job she starts 20 put the various
parts together. mUcn as she would engage
upon a jigsaw puzzle. During the process
she calls in various members Of the family
TO solicit their advice as 10 whether they
would put the feather Thereon there.
Usually they refuse 10 commit themselves.
preferring 10 leave the decision to her
Well. somehow the thing Is finished. and
the eyes OF our bridge club members are
dazzled at their next meeting by the ap-
partition OF Florence and her hat. We are
called upon 70 gaze, 70 wonder, 20 laud.
You would never dream she mentions
confidentialy. that / made It myself out
OF three old ones AZ II We could imagine
IL was made out OF anything else
THE clothes in our shops are made by
I professional people, who have devoted their
lives 10 the study. They have patent sew
ing machines and all sorts OF appliances
by which they can produce results that
make Florences best attempts look pain
/ fully amateurish at best. And FOR her 10
/ persist in shaving over n wardrobe which
+ is predest!ned never IN the end 10 look like
anything Such work, I'm my mind, comes
under the category OF mlsdlrected effort
and science misapplied."