Evening star., 1933-07-30
BY LELONG.

I HAVE sometimes been asked the
question: What should woman
spend if she is to be really well
i dressed?" That. of course. is an
impossible question. 1t depends
on SO many things-her particular man
ner of living, her likes and dislikes, the
stress she lays on certain activities, and
q thousand similar details.
The smart business woman, for in
stance, of whom there are SO many in
America, has perhaps only two types
of clotheS-chic business and street COS
tunes and evening gowns. She must
always be Immediately groomed and
coStumed, and she has very little time
to do things for herself, or to have a
maid do them. She has no time to
spend on long fittings and she hasn't
a minute to spare for alterations on
old gowns. Consequently. to maintain
the smart appearance that is necessary
for her, she may find that she must
spend good deal more money for her
clothes than the woman at home.
The woman whose day is spent with
the usual round of social activities, on
the other hand, will need variety OF
costumes. She may have house to
manage, so will need smart, simple
little costumes for morning wear at
home She will require sport frockS for
tennis and golf, if she is a devotee OF
these sports. She may drive car, and
so will require the type of costume suit
able for long trips through the country.
This woman will need not only street
clothes for the daytime hours, as does
her sister in business-she also will need
simple and more formal afternoon
gowns.
You begin to see why it is quite i'm
possible for me. or for any one, to an
swer the question: How much should
q woman spend on her clothes?'
1t is an individual question that must
be decided not only by womans in
come, but by her social requirements.
She may buy hundred gowns and
fail to be well dressed or she may buy
six and give an air of exquisite taste.
For whether the wardrobe is simple or
elaborate, it must be planned II 1t Is TO
be smart and suitable.
x :. x
T SHOULD consider a wardrobe COM
L plete and distinguished If it con-
tanned one costume for each of the varl-
Gus types of engagement that par
ticular woman might have. 1t might
contain, for instance, one evening
gown and wrap. one afternoon ensem-
Bile, one tailored frock with coat, one
sports dress and one dress for informal
en-, such wardrobe would be adequate
for no matter what the occasion they
would have at least one suitable cos
tune. But suppose there were two eve
ming dresses and no costume for after
noon wear or several afternoon dresses
and no smartly simple street costume
then the wardrobe would be inadequate
Now, of course, such basic ward
robe might be added to indefinitely
Instead of one evening gown, there
might be five of various types; instead
of one afternoon ensemble, there might
be four of different types; instead of 9
single sports frock, there might be hall
q dozen, and so on. Yet this second
elaborate wardrobe would be no more
suitable or adequate than the first. 1t
might satisfy the vanity of woman
who disliked wearing the same dress
twice In succession, but 1t would not
make her whit smarter than the lady
who was limited to well chosen skele-
ton wardrobe.
I advise every woman who is begin
ming to think of her Fall wardrobe tc
st down with q pencil and paper, anc
= 3 quite business-like way list the