"APPROPRIETY."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 5

"APPROPRIETY."

. I overheard rather a pleasing fragment •f.conversation in the,.l'ark-last week (writes Vrrs.' Evan Nepean in the "Queen,")-: > Said one man to another:. "A' smart woman — what I like about. the. ..way, .she. dresses is ; the porfect appropriet.v. . .'• v Thero is a smack of old-world feeling about ''appropriety''. which I like; propriety comes into, it,, a nice 'propriety, a 'pretty, bccoiciugness: ■ ■ ■. ".." My love in her attire doth show her wit,.. ' • ,'lt-doth so well.become her; • '' For every. season . she hath ' dressings fit . ■ For-winter, spring, .and summer. " (tho rhyminjg of the second and fourth '■liiies being-- no'better/than it : should be,- but who am I to criticise?). ; > It is: ihdepd a. gift, this ability to dress suitably/on! all.;occasions. ', There are some, women who never learn' it. , I" know one who has-heaps. of charming clothes, really- charming, viand sho-is a.pretty • woman 1 ' and can look, adorable; but "that only, happens by accident; because if she can wear the wrong clothes.-she'does so! I met. her first at a hig'shoot Sho.appeared.'in bright rose-red tweed anil thin, button boots, and could riot in the least understand-what was tho mat-, ter'with everybody; they shied' at her. like a colt at his first traction-engine.: • I have seen her at quite a quiet little dinne'r'in the travesty of full dress/ a regular ball; gown, with low neck and quite short sleeves. I have met her at a big-dinner in what I call a tea gown, and I have, seen hor-i.at' aHhoatre jn what nobody could deny, was a .fea ,gown—an' unpardonable crime. Shoiputs heaps of' thirigs'm; her hair with a •gown.;.which calls aloud for a siirinlo comb or-perhaps one jewel; she', appears with a shining 1 morning head—oh, . yes) ,it 'does shine; she. hair—without - tho 'very slightest suggestion of an evening coiffurc— to go to a county ball. \ She wears all sorts of tulle scarves and ostrich' feathers, .and. long skirts in the country, and if she has a new smart country tweed that _ she likes herself :in she will 'go oiit to" tea in it in London. ' . ( ■ She.'ivill; be ultra-French' on an occasion that; demands ' "prime English'.'; picturesque when most rigidly unpicturesque surroundings are the order of'the day; she-, will he penitent and-distressed (but she would do'it again on the, next possible opportunity) to find''that .'she has on a brilliant green suit -or a vivid scarlet coat when calling to pay a visjt of condolenco on some friend in deep , mourning. I have seen her at a'memorial service in the brightest blue hat I ,have everjbeheld! Yve have all. met the woman'who never Booms to'be able to " raise." -a pair of brown stockings'to go with her .brown- boots, who cannot for the life of lior. find the right sort of veil to go with her'hat—light tulle over dark felt, heavy dark gauze over pale ostrich feathers, ctc.; who spoils the most attractive ; tout ensemble by. just one detail that jS'rs painfully.' - I-. admit life': is ' not - always easy - where clothes are concerned! 'Things'will, not be just-ready to''wear when'they- are wanted, arid will not match when required, and do not' como home by a particular date, refuse to harmonise with tho moods, of the weather,' arid go out of fashion when particularly desired to. r? ay ; in,.and'so forth. ; ; v'<. • ■ '