Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-17

NV W. . .nsss are Necessary @s, aSs':
a trousseau is
In All classes of society ii is the Gus
tom TO give a girl a certain allowance
for her wedding outfit: even rich men at
tempt to carry out this practice with tneif
daughters The girl who has only
small amount from her own earnings
snd the world is so full of business Wohh-
IN today that this phase of the situation
IS important-takes up the method or put
ting aside so much each week for the
clothes she needs.
The most reckless way of providing
rousseau is TO buy whatever one likes IN
the shops and charge il. This IS not only
reckless, but foolish. Ii has neither sense
nor reason behind IL. Gowns are bought
that no one likes two weeks afterward,
garments are duplicated. needless
amount of time and money is expended.
the bride-elect is exhausted and dissatis-
fed and the whole plan is wrong.
!
As the usual time for an autumn mar
riage is the first week of October the
girl who is going to indulge in matri-
mony Is compelled to map out trous-
seau now. 1t is not an idle task. Ii re-
qui. IS business management and organ
ization. If one has no capacity for such
work il is better TO call into counsei
SEINE one who has
This is the day of efficiency. Slipshod
mana cement is looked upon as one of the
vices of the day. Every one is imbued
with the strength of this movement and
its direct relation To every hour OF ones
life. What once was considered piece
OF speculation on the part Of gentle
man named Taylor from Philadelphia
now has become the accepted law OF
business in every firm in this country.
The most idle woman has heard about
il and had IL preached to her, and she
has found out that when the efficiency
method Is applied to her own life she
gets more out of the day and night with
done before
1t is only natural. therefore. that when
some new task is to be undertaken her
mind should seek for the essentials OF
good management She does not wish to
be hopelessly behind the times by con-
Quoting this task in a manner that re-
fleets no credit on herself and does not
mean well for her future life, with its ad-
ministration of household.
-
She should sit down with paper and
TEN of expenditure and purchasing. She
wants to know exactly how much her
trousseau will cost and what allowance
she has for it. She can get the necessary
things for whatever amount she has to
spend: her task is to discover how many
of each garment she can have. how much
money she can spend on her wedding
gown. and what quality of material and
workmanship she can afford.
IL she does not reduce this to acts and
figures. and keep them where they will
guide her, she will be caught in a mesh
of trouble and anxiety long before Octo
Der arrives. With the amazing possibili-
ties in modern shopping there is no rea-
son for her to fail I'm any schedule that
she may make. The shops offer all things
at all prices and dressmakers and SEAM
stresses abound.
The tradition that once governed a bride
was that she should have enough under
linen to last her for years, and all the
gowns she could afford. She went to her
husband well provided for in the neces-
sary apparel 10 last for two years If pos
sible The idea was that she was not to
draw upon his purse for any of her In
dividual expenses before she was COM
PEELED TO do II.
Like all other traditions that We have
held as inviolable, this one has gone by
the board. We investigate traditions to-
day. weigh them III the balance. and
either correct them or discard them. Wei
do not worship The ways OF our ancestors.
Tor We have changed with the time.
When our grandmothers provided chests
and trunks oil apparel for trousseau.
the fashions did not change every month
VI 50. gowns could he worn and made
over until they We're ragged. Hats could
he twisted and turned and retrimmed
until they had given long service.
Not so today. The woman who spends
money q large trousseau is simply
money away. Before she can
get much service out of the gowns they
are out Of fashion. and the same is true
o. hats and shoes and even underwear. |
No one ever thought that underlinen
v oulu go through Such drastic change
as II has gone through in the past two
ears
Ii is not only that superfuous garments !
have been discarded. but those which |
have been retained have changed their |
shape. This was necessary because of |
the change in outer apparel One could |
not wear full underlinen beneath the |
modern skirt and blouse, and. from pres
tnt indications, women will continue to |
wear the style of today for many DAYS |
10 come
All these conditions have entirely |
changed the trousseau. 1t is no longer |
complete il makes no effort 10 embrace
all the garments that woman will need |
Tor Year or more. Ii is only intended |
10 satisfy the present need and let the
future take care of itself !
This IL the fundamental fact 10 re- |
member when planning the clothes for a |
bride. Elimination Of all the non-essen- |
tials is the fundamental fact in this work |
and the bride-elect will not lind it as |
easy as II sounds. II We all knew this |
of life and lived up to il, We |
would get far better result and accom- |
plish more: but in parenthess, We would |
all lose half Of the fun of life
No one can lay down the law for how |
much lingerie woman needs. but she |
should make sure that she does not get |
too much. III is mooted question as TO |
whether il is wise to buy all ones gar !
,nents to make them If one is fas- |
idious about the fit and difficult to |
please. then il is wiser to make and not |
10 buy.
AS rule. one cannot get the fine ham
d'work In garments made in America /
that one can get in those brought from !
France and sold in the shops. And /,
word TO the wise may be helpful Just !
here: that in the summer there are sales |
wear. Those can be picked up for a |
small amount and fitted to the figure at |
home. or sometimes i'm the shops.
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