RATIONAL DRESS FOR WOMEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17684, 23 July 1919, Page 6

RATIONAL DRESS FOR WOMEN.

TO THE EDITOJI.

Sib, —After much careful consideration it seems to me tliat the time is fitting, and | the occasion appropriate, to make a 'few |' suggestions on the subject of rational dress for women, but I do so in fear and trembling, because of the limitless measure of women's love of adornment. The war has come and gone, poano is with us, and yet the state rif unrest in the world is far greater than it was before the war. Men j have shown their real worth, and their two manliness by buying freedom for a generation yet unborn, their very life-blood being i the price, and women, too. have proved by i their love, and zeal, and devotion to duty, | that they axe not unmindful of the sacri- I ficial aspect, and yet in spite of these praiseworthy acts, the fondness for fine clothes.l has gone steadily on until it seems to me ! that it is no exaggeration to say, that the i love of dress is eatings the very souls out j of women to-day. Now, is this a healthy state for us women to be in? Surely it ! would seem as if the very birthday of a ■ God-given opportunity is at hand. - Surely ] now is the time for women to adont liberty I costume. The arguments which are in favour of it far out-weigh anything that | can be said against it. Why, after all. should not women stand side by side with their brother men to enjoy the same freedom of limb? But over and above this, what I am most concerned about is tho constant waste caused by the recent modo of incessant charges. I fenl quite sure that to do away with the skirt would mean to end a lot of this modern day sinful extravagance. Women have become practical in their life, why not in their dress? There most certainly is nothing practical about such a meaningless garment as a skirt. I remeiaibar quite well a few years ago expressing those feelings to a man who was far from what would be considered a moralist. This was what he answered: " Introduce the style if you like, and wo men will. all be moralists in a very short space of time." Surely, if such an innovation would not only be the means of bringing about a better state of economy, but would also produce a generation of moralists, the sacrifice woul3 not have been, made in vain. It only remains for women of high social standing to move in the matter and all the rest would be plain sailing.—l am, etc.. Moralist.