Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-07-06
Quality, Style, r.o.v
Timely Question

New York.-One g the several dis
cussiOns which have been thrown into
the modern hOur-which breeds dis
cussions as field does mushrooms
is whether it is better for woman
to look for quality or for style in
her clothes, notes u leading fashion
correspondent.
The argumentative and prOblemati-
cal side of the clothes is by no means
a small issue in the work of winning
the war. No woman has q soul SO
dead that she does not want to con-
centrate her efforts in the right direc-
ton, and to bring to all the minor
phases Of life, which she may have
heretofore waved away with u care
less gesture the deep thought and
high efficiency which the hour de-
mandS.
Once upOn a time the talk of clothes
turned only to fabrics, shaping, Access
series and cOlOrs. This was enough
to gossip about, and it gave the public
and the dressmakers lively time.
But we have gone upward-Or down
ward, whichever one wishes to call it
In series Of spirals to another
stratum OF air. We are intent upon
the discussion of what is good or
bad, what is cheap and nasty as Op-
posed to what is cheap and worthy in
woman's apparel. Intelligent women.
and otherwise, find that the gauntlet
Of argument thrown into the arena is
instantly snatched UP by everyone
who has Il voice, and the prOblemat-
ical side Of wartime appareling makes
an enlivening discussion that puts
scandal society and love affairs in the
background.
Controversy Between Quality, Style.
This problem, which has been pre-
sented to every woman during the last
six months, as to whether she should
buy Il gown which lasts and pay u
big price for it, or buy one which she
may discard soon, and ut much low
err price. is of high interest. It is
settled by the individual and yet 1t is
There is an advocate fOr each side
I'm every crowd that fOregathers to
discuss the problem; and, more to the
purpose. there are many advocates
for each side in the commercial
world
The people who do exquisite work
are loud in their claims that it is bet
ter to pay Il high price for material
and workmanship. that will last as
long as economy demands, than to pay
Il fifth of that price for Il ready-tO-
wear gown that will fall apart after
II few months service.
Opposing this argument. and con-
ductin. Il brilliant and usually sue
ceSsful offensive, is another line, made
up Of those who insist that in Il day
like this women prefer style to quail
ity and workmanship; that they would
rather pay somewhere in the neigh
borhood of $50 for ready-to-wear
frock that incorporates the newest
fashion features and gives one
smart look, even if it has to be thrown
away before long.
1t has always been the method of
the woman on small income, who
wishes to dress fashiOnably, to care
little for quality or workmanship and
spend all on style. 1t is for this rea-
son that America presents the most
brilliant and dashing conglOmeratiOn of
young women in the world. The shops
cater to this immense crowd, which
prefers five cheap gowns that are
smart to one admirable gown that is
conservative.
1t looks now as though American
women are to be divided into two
camps-thOSe who put all their money
into one conservative, weli-built gown
that must last, and those who now and
then buy frOcks that are chic and
that incorporate the new fashion fea-
lures.