The Art of Dress.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1695, 24 July 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

The Art of Dress.

Tiie Pall Mall Gazette, in a review of M. Charles Blanc on the art of dressing, says: ' Some of our readers will perhaps be surprised to learn that the style of a lady's dres^ should depend upon the shape of her nose, just as the colours she wears mnstbe chosen with due regard to her complexion gind the particular shade of her hair. If the nose is classical the toilet must have a certain style about it, especially when the person's features and bearing are imposing But what is style ? asks M. Charles Blanc; and he then proceeds to tell us that this question may be answered by the first principles of decorative art —namely, that there is more majesty in repetition than in alternation, and more dignity in harmony than in contrast. Few colours, lines that are seldom broken, an air of simplicity even in the midst ol richness, uniformity of materials and quiet trimmings constitute a toilette severe. O'a the other hand, different shades of colour, broken lines, novel trimmings and piquancy caused by contrast are the characteristic features of a toilette de genre and would suit a person with ' tip-tilted' nose, as Tennyson has it, or at least an unclassical one, a pleasant countenance or saucy eyes There are these two extremes —austerity and coquetry or, in other words, dignity and gracefulness—as well as a medium style, which may be termed pompous elegance. M. Charles Blanc compares the three kinds of toilet to the three orders of architecture and tells us that by taking a little from one and a little from another we can compose dresses that'will suit any style of features. A lady, however, in selecting her toilette should always bear in mind that she

must adorn herself in -such a manner that when people look at her their attention, after resting a moment on her dress will become concentrated on her person. In this manner the elegance and gracefulness of a lady's attire will cause people to admire the the lady herself. How often have we heard it said, ' We saw some magnificent dresses this afternoon.' JNow if the clever dressmakers who fashioned those robes had * exercised a little more ingenuity the same people would have remarked, 'We saw some very pretty women this afternoon.'