COST OF DRESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1926, Page 2

COST OF DRESS

PRICES TWENTY’ YEARS AGO.

To read of dress prices of twenty years ago is like a fairy tale to the harassed woman of to-day, battling with short allowances and high prices to carry out the dictates of fashion. It is also a complete answer to those who complain of the exteravagance of the modern woman compared- with her sister in Edward’s reign. 1 found the fairy tale in an old English magazine of 1905. Dress prices in England have always been slightly lower than in Australia or New Zealand, but the increase in twenty years has been 5n the same proportion. The magazine detailed various dress allowances for the girls of those days. Since it made provision for boating, dancing, tennis, and riding, the girls inferred to must have been well off. But the prices I Listen —

Dressmakers would make everydaywear frocks for from 15s to 20s. What philanthropy! With blue serge at Is bd a yard, “nun’s veiling”' at Is 3d, and beige at Is, a new dress would not be the considerable item it is now. When washing muslin “suitable for tennis frocks” could be bought at 4J,d a yard no girl with clever fingers ned pay more than half-a-crown for the frock. Forty-five shillings would buy a boating costume of cream serge at a good shop; £3 a “plain green velvet dinner dress, cut low back and front,” and 2 guineas a black Russian net evening frock. At an Oxford street shop a lady’s thilormade cloth costume could be made to measure for 12s 6d, a smai*t black serge jacket for 325, and a tweed waterproof coat for a .guinea. The thought almost brings tears to one’s eyes I Shoes mjght almost have' been given away. A pair of “exquisitely embroidered dance shoes,” with buckles, for 10s 6d; strong tan walking shoes for 7s lid ; white kid eventing shoes for 3s llgd; patent court shoes for 4s 6d; and a pair of black velveteen house slippers for Is llgd. What a world to live in! Good silk stockings were 4s, fine black cashmere 2s 6d, and lisle thread Is llgd a pair. “Undies” were made from nainsook at Bd, lace at Id, and embroidery at 3d a yard. A white embroidered petticoat was 4s 6d; corsets, which many can now rub off their bill, cost Is lid or 2s lid. For all but the best occasions a straw sailor hat at 2s 6d or 3s 6d was quite sufficient; 10s would buy a toque covered with pale coloured flowers, and 12s 6d a “best trimmed hat.” With a heart-rending vision of kid or doeskin gloves at 2s 6d or 2s lid; let us end this tantalising glimpse into a world that may never come back. ,