San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-09
Dress as Lure
toLove
By Beatrice Fairfax.

Carlyle once wrote an essay OH
| clothes in which he worked out a
profound philosophy based on the in
fluence on ourselves and others of
what we wear. Clothes have ire
mendous influence because they make
up in great degree the impressions VIC
get of others and others get of US.
Possibly you feel certain that you
dress to please yourself, alone. With
out doubt your own idea of comfort
suitability and beauty influences you
in your choice of clothes as in all
you do. But men and women are
social beings, dependent on each other
for happiness. And so instinctively,
often subconsciously they seek to
please each other in manner, CONVEX
sation and apparel. And it's normal
for q man TO make especial effort
to pleasantly impress women and for
woman to try to please men in man
ner of dress.
This urge is oftentimes felt early
in life. ~. :,
"Dickey is beginning to take an in
terest in girls" said Dickey's mother
of her 12-ycar-old son.
"What makes you think so? ]
asked.
Because just lately he's begun try
ing to dress neatly and even scrubs
his neck and ears without being re-
minded"
1t has been claimed that women no
longer dress to please men because
they have foresworn laces, follow
me" ribbons and "beau-catcher curls, y
dear to the pretty dependent women
r ltVf
Claire is not indifferent to the effect
on the men she meets of her makeup,
| modish abbreviated frock and smart
bob. She is making the same femin-
inc appeal grandmother made as a
belle in the sixties, only Claire uses
| the fashions of 1925 as the medium
for her charm.
Whether girls always succeed by
their mode of dress in attracting the
kind of attention they wish from the
kind of men they hope to interest Is
question.
There are certain characteristics OF
feminite dress which nearly all men
admire. For instance, they admire
neatness, cleanliness and daintinesS IN
each detail of woman's grooming
dress and appearance.
Rundown Eecls, wrinkled stockings
with runs, a petticoat hanging below
the hem.line Of frock. hair less than
well groomed, nails of doubtful hue
will, for the avcrag man, utterly de-
stroy the effect of the most stunning
costume, the most bewitching per-
fume. -...
It's doubtful whether men like per
fume MS much as women think they,
do. Certainly 1t needs to be used
very subtly in order to charm rather
than repel.
Imogene is fascinating and popular:
Yet even girls who knew and liked
her well used sometimes to look at
each other when ImOgene passed, as
though to ask: "Why so much per-
fumc? Why the orange and scarlet
frock?"
Imogene was married last summer
to n man wise enough to see in her
despite these Haunting fads, a heart
of gold and golden charm. Since her
marriage ImOgene has given up per-
'fume., Her costumes are of soft,
neutral shades. She has learned to
dress exquisitely, through following
her husbands suggestions regarding
her costumes. A mans idea of wo-
mems clothes is generally sane and
dependable because he considers gem
eral effect and becomingness rather
than merely fads and fashions.
Conspicuous extremes, lack OF
suitability and reserve undoubtedly
attract attention of n certain kinu.
But such attention generally proves
| Objectionable to girl of sclf-respcct.
It's folly to dress in a flashy style
sure to attract men of vulgar taste
and instincts then complain that such
men do not treat you with respect.
You, yourself are responsible for the
impression you make. Dress according
| to your highest idea of suitability,
modesty and beauty if you would in
tercst Isen who are worthwhile friends
and serious in their regard for you.
This docs not necessarily mean cX-
pcnsive dress. You may discourage
The One Man by wearing, cloths so
| costly that he will not dare ask you
to share his modest income.
Vivian used TO spend every cent she
made on dress. She could do this be-
cause she lived at home. She became
interested in, Charles who is on the
way to success but is not yet making
much money.
Then Vivian began to wear simpler
less expensive things-aummer frocks
of linen wolfe and tub silk. She was
careful 20 let Charles know she made
them herself and at little expense.
These simple frocks were just MS be
coming as her more elaborate clothes
had been. And they had the effect
Of inspiring Charles with courage to
ask the tirl he loved to be his wife
since she was obviously willing to
cconOmize.
We express ourselves in all We do
and especially in appearance and