Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-04
The MODERN WOMAN.
Ix-WOMEN. AND CLOTHES.
RI, Eredersc Haskfn
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

The American woman is credited with
being the most extrayagant being on
earth as regards her clothing. The ar
rival of an American heiress is regarded
as far more important by the tradesmen
Of Europe than that of any reigning
sovereign Even royalty has not such
unlimited sums of money at its dis
posal. and certainly is not SO reckless
regarding its expenditures. The expendi-
lures of the Empress Josephine for many
years We're considered record breaking
in feminine extravaganza OF toilet, but
there are American women who each
year exceed the $4,000 which Napoleon
provided for her allowance. When one
woman is taxed sa0GO0~duty upon per-
sonal articles brought over from Europe
in single year in addition to the money
spent In this country the sum of $1OO,OOo
may be readily accounted for.
When a single hat brought over to this
country is sold at a loss for the sum of
$3.50 it would seem that extravaganza
had almost reached the climax. although
the dealers each season tell of new ex-
tremes. The rousseau Of a bride a gen.
Grafton ago was supposed to be liberal
in the extreme If it cost $1,000 Now 1t
wedding dress alone if the finest grade of
lace is used while $4,000 will not pro-
vide trousseau especially noteworthy
for its elegance. When hand-embroider-
ed nightdresses are made for thousand
dollars apiece the old allowance of a
hundred dollars for the brides lingerie
which was extravagant a generation ago,
seems almost ridiculous to the fashion
able belle of today.
The difference between the cost of
women's clothing and that of men has
Women Spend More joke writ
Than Men for Clothes. ., fon nsnv
hits, and yet it is almost unbelievable.
well known couple not yet included in
the multimillionaire class returned from
Europe last year with their seasons out
fit Of clothes The man. who is consid-
cred one of the best dressed men OF the
country, paid duty upon $40 worth Of
new clothing. His wife had $4,000 worth.
the chief part of which was in gowns, al
though her hats alone cost more than
her husbands entire outfit. Yet gagged
by the expenditures of her associates
this woman did not spend any more than
her sense of obligation to her position
in society demanded.
The greatest increase in the cost of
living in many families is the larger sums
required for clothing. A woman who
used to dress so well upon an allowance
of $500 a year that her gowns attracted
favorable comment now spends ten times
that sum and is dressing plainly in COM
parison with her associates. The first APP
pearance of spangled clothes upon the
New York stage, worn by amazons at
traeted attention for their extravagant
| briiiancy. Now thousands of American
matrons wear spangled gowns of even
greater extravaganza, which attract no
| attention because they are no longer nn-
usual.
| Much of the extravaganza in the clothes
| of fashionable women might be condoned
because of the money which. 1t keeps in
circulation We're it not for the hardships
which il imposes upon the women OF
smaller means, especially the working
| woman. There is no class distinction in
] clothing in America Every one wears