The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-15

X n ODERN fashions. like modern
tV dances, manners and NOR
ais, are the cause for much
criticism. constant and carping. On
all sides We hear strong condemna-
ton OF the present sartorial tenden-
Giles. We are told that our clothes
are outrageous; that they are made
only to appeal to the coarser In
stincts of man, and that our man
ners and morals are as bad as our
clothes. Is this criticism uncalled
for? Alas. not always, but l think
that the most severe critics do not
realize that our fashions after all but
express the present unrest and ex-
element that dominate every phase
of the modern life.
1t Is not immodesty nor indecency
that inspires the clothes OF to-day.
1t Is that woman being the inarticu-
late half OF the human race, seeks
to express her individuality, her
personality on the world through
her clothes.
This is a day OF excitement. a day
when we have to have on. senses
titillated with a new sensation every
hour. q day Of extremes in thought
and deed Exaggeration is the key
note of the age; we meet It in the
play, the fashions. in every phase OF
our daily life Even our manners
and morals are exaggerated, but this
is not due to the fashions of the mo-
ment, although undoubtedly our
manners and morals are affected by
the clothes We wear. We have out
as handsome did; we now appar-
haf &c
handsome dresses.
One OF my theories is that
woman should dress up to her man
ners and morals. Now do not mean
by this that the members of the
demi-monde should wear a certain
uniform: neither do believe that a
mondaine should wear only quiet
drao effects. No indeed. But, realiz-
Ing fully that We are affected men,
tally. morally and physically by our
clothes. do believe that we should
dress for. as we'll as act, the part In
which fate has us cast.
Fortunately for the future OF pic
turesque fashions, the world Is
divided against itself. One-half OF
the males thunder at us that our
standards OF morality are low; that
we are growing decadent. st is
your clothes; your clothes make you
tmmoral!" they cry. But the other
side comes back with: You dress
as you do because of your morals: it
Is your morals that make your
clothes, not your clothes your NOR
ais"
To start at the beginning, l must
say once and for all that the present
fashions are not immoral; that they
do not create immortality, and that in
themselves there Is nothing sug-
gestive in the really lovely fashions
created for the mondaines. It is pos
sible for a lady-or. ! should better
say, a gentlewoman- to wear any
thing and still be q gentlewoman. It
Is, In way, not what she wears, but
how she wears 1t, that marks the
difference between the we'll bred
woman, the woman of good manners,
and the woman who seeks to attract
through the suggestiveness of her
clothes. Wearing the present fash
ions Is like dancing the present
dances--it is all in the manner in
which It is done.
AS have often said. manners may
make the man, but dress makes the
woman. No woman is ever at her
ease who is not dressed for the part
which she must assume in her world.
A woman not born or trained to that
part can better assume 1t II she Is
dressed for 1t. 1t is far easier to act
ike lady IL one Is dressed like oney
During all ages the clothes of the
woman have reflected the spirit of
mat DAY. Critics, looking on at the