Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-08

do not suggest a life of labor. 1t may
be pride, vanity and egoism. this feel
ing, but one must reckon with that
which is, not with that which should
be.
The wage-earner. therefore. should
make up her mind to differentiate her
two schemes of dressing. She is sue
cessful if she puts a sharp dividing
line between them. She is happy if
she does not economize on the clothes
which are least worn.
Few of these are needed by
woman who does not make society
her chief pastfme; but for the very
pride of the thing that little should
they need not be renewed each sea-
son. 1t is not the change of clothes.
but their fitness for an occasion that
gives a woman the sense. and repu-
tation, of being well dressed.
1t is in the assembling of these So
cial clothes that the average wage
Garner makes a serious mistake. She
is apt to ignore, or to economic on
the accessories. She often buys cheap
slippers in order to have more money
to put in street shoes, and she does
not buy either slippers or stockings
clothes in her mind.
xx
Unless she wears black as a con-
slant evening color it is foolish to
buy black satin slippers and silk
stockings and expect them to give
constant service. II she selects gowns
in striking colors, it is necessary to
have the slippers and shoes dyed to
match, which is a costly proceeding.
If she would take leaf from the
French wage-earner. who never
omits social diversions from her
scheme of life, she will choose dull
color of gold in satin slippers and
with any evening costume as long az
they last. The American woman
makes metal slippers serve. but satin
is more graceful and durable, as it
does not tarnish.
No matter how strong is a wage
aarners desire for the flashing finery
corn by the woman of leisure she
should repress it while she is wage
earning. If she must have 1t. let her
cultivate the diversion that demands
it. While she is at work she must be
clever compromise between the indif-
ferent woman who is dowdy. the silly
woman who initiates the chorus of the
winter garden and the strict econom
list who buys her clothes for service
and not for beauty.
She does not want to be an eccen-
trio. The artists smock, the string of
are not for the practical atmosphere
of wage-earning. Let them be strict
ly limited to the studio.
The wage-earners substitute for
smock has been the white shirt waist
which is a garment Of debatable suit
ability. Unless it is exquisite in ma
terial and workmanship, faultless in
freshness, it is a bad choice, and the
expensive shirt waist is an extrava-
gance for any but the rich woman.
Unless the laundry bill is of small
moment it is wiser to seek other
blouses than thin white shirt waists.
Fashion provides many substitutes.
These are economical and more grace
full.
Nearly all women have succumbed
to the apparent abolition of the waist
line and do not therefore remove
coat from a skirt in public. For this
reason they prefer the overblouse.
which converts the skirt into a one
piece frock and permits one to work
without the incubus of a Jacket.
A woman who works should keep
jewelry for the non-working hours,
except in simple form which serves
a purpose. 1t is bad enough to sprin-
kle it about a person when 1T is gen.
uine. but it is obnoxious to indulge in
it when it has no value.
The Indian with his beads was a
worthier object.