DRESS FOR THE OFFICE GIRL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 169, 22 August 1914, Page 7

DRESS FOR THE OFFICE GIRL.

An exceedingly pretty girl, dowdily dressed, is much less attractive than one with little or no claim to beauty who manages to attire herself in a becoming and appropriate manenr. Clothes make the woman (whether they maker the man or not) and especially the business woman. For she must think not only of their attractiveness, their becomingness, and their appropriateness, but also-of their cost and durability. Clothes may make a material difference in her career and they certainly make a material difference in her comfort.

There is a psychological side to the problem, too. I once heard a girl say, "1 can talk back to any one when I am wearing a good-looking tailormade." That seemed to me to epitomise the situation. When you are well dressed you have a comfortable, secure feeling that gives you a certain assurance of manner. You are. doing yourself justice and you realise it. . And surely neatness plus assurance are two business assets that will prepossess any employer in a girl's favour. I don't mean to say they sometimes are enough to hold a job, but they are quite enough to procure one. I imagine if nine girls out of ten who now hold responsible positions were to ask their employers why they hired them the inevitable answer would be, "Well, you made a good appearance, and I thought I'd try you.'' These men perhaps could not analyse what creates the impression of neatness, but they know it when they see it just the same. With other girls it is a privilege to be well dressed, with the business girl it is a duty. And it does not cost any more to be dressed stylishly a.nd fittingly than it does to be dressed dowdily and inappropriately, and it costs less than to be overdressed.

Most girls should begin by buying fewer and better clothes. If you are thinking of buying two cheap dresses take the money you would spend for the one and hp.lf of the other and buy a good one. Be conservative in your tastes. Fads are only-for the wealthy and the vulgax; who imitate them. A girl can be stylish without being conspicuous in the least and certainly without following the expensive vagaries of fashion. If the truth were told, it is not the worth while people who do follow them. The ideal wardrobe for a business girl is a very simple matter if she sets about acquiring it judiciously. First o£ all, being downtown constantly, she should always be dressed properly for the street. The foundation of her wardrobe should be a dark tailormade, than which there is no more attractive

garment that a girl can wear. If she is careful in the selection of it it can be. worn for early spring and fall and almost all of the winter except very cold days. Of course it is convenient to have a long, heavy coat for stormy days and also to wear over a light dress if she goes out on a winter evening. A tailormade suit needs care; it should be pressed often and cleaned at intervals if it is to wear well, and the coat should always be put on a hanger when it is taken off. A black sateen office apron is a wonderful help in keeping the skirt in good condition. A good tailormade will cost more than two or three dresses, but it will outwear four and look well when it is almost threadbare.

The wardrobe of the business girl should include a number of waists, and white ones are preferable, because they launder nicely. A waist of dark silk to match or harmonise with the suit is also a handy acquisition. For the summer months coolness is a paramount necessity in dress and it is my own experience that a dark foulard or crepe de dhene dress worn without a .coat is cooler than many of the cotton dresses, which have a tendency to crush. In these days of inexpensive : dry cleaning the dark silk dress saves many laundry bills, too, since it needs to be cleaned perhaps only once in a' summer: With the dark silk dress one must have two net guimps, which can be washed and do not need ironing. For those who still cling to the idea that silk is hot and do not take into consideration that more" undergarments are necessary with cotton clothes there is great comfort and economy as well as style in linen suits. They are washable and durable' and among the most attractive summer garments. Above all, the business girls should be

particular about her gloves and shoes; high shoes are much more comfortable if one is forced to be on one's feet much of the day. In the winter heavy dark kid gloves are the proper things for travelling back and forth on the dusty street cars, and in the summer washable gloves, either silk or cotton, are no expense and no trouble. In regard to hats, suffice it to say that a small, close fitting hat is not only more practical but in most cases more becoming than a wide and betrimmed confection.

For the business girl outside of office hours an attractive lace or chiffon waist is almost a necessity to wear to theatre or to dinner in the evening at a friend's house and for Sunday afternoons. Any woman is well dressed for almost any occasion in a tailor-made suit of a becoming neutral shade with a dressy waist. But this is only a suggestion, outside of office hours a business girl has a right to give free rein to her tastes, no matter how gay they are, if she can afford it.