COMMON SENSE IN DRESS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 61, 14 February 1880, Page 3

COMMON SENSE IN DRESS.

* Within the last few years considerable advance in the way of taste lias boon made in dress ; but still one sees such preposterous results from the anxiety some people have to be “artistic” and aesthetic in their costumes, that one cannot but feel that their zeal would be well tempered with discretion. It is an excellent thing that many women have emancipated themselves from the tyranny of dressmakers ; but let them beware of falling into an even worse bondage under the leaders of the so called “ art” school of dress, because it is very rare that people exercise their own unbiassed taste with regard to their costume, and as a rule follow, though, perhaps, unconsciously, the stylo adopted by somebody whom they regard as the model of good taste. Lot every body bo fully persuaded that their dress is suitable for the occasion on which it is to be worn, as there can be no beauty without fitness. A stir has been made lately about reviving the Greek costume ; but the difficulty of a hat or a bonnet with such a costume seems insuperable. We have to take it for granted that Greek women looked beautiful and picturesque in their flowing robes. Assuming that such was the fact, we cannot blind ourselves to the fact that among English women Greek heads and features are exceptional. In a drawing-room, long flowing robes look well enough upon a person whoso form and figure arc statuesque and finely moulded. With regard to “ artistic ” dressing, it really seems ! . that the shorter and stouter the wearer, j the more extravagant the style of costume ■ worn. How often do wo see little fat women with dresses made of soft, thick stuff of a highly unbecoming “ art ” shade puffed on < shoulders an 1 elbows in a manner that 1 increases Ilnur apparent width tenfold. ( Mow often do wo see such people walking - in the Loudon streets with their skirts caught up in the most (inartistic manner, wiih large illumed hats, often crushed 1 into the must bizarre ” shapes, and the roughest hair imaginable. And yet * these ladies consider themselves far superior in taste to the prosaic creatures who prefer to be neat, clean, and tidy in closely lilting short costumes, with tidy hair, hats, boots, and gloves, and who can walk with comfort to themselves and I others ; and who arc not ridiculous, because they are fit for what they are ■“ about.—“Bogina,” in the “Queen,”