THE GROWING EPTRAVAGANCE OF WOMEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2571, 24 June 1903, Page 62

THE GROWING EPTRAVAGANCE OF WOMEN.

In all sections of society one hears married men, and indeed others, grumbling considerably at the extravagance of their womenkind in dres=. In individual cases they might have the right to grumble ; but on principle, and in general. I do not see that they have any genuine grounds for complaint, because if women ar3 no\ extravagant in dres.s it must be remembered

that for generations men have been extravagant in other and Morse forms of selfindulgence. And, after all, man can take comfort to his soul in the knowledge that iD is chiefly with a view to pleasing him that woman indulges in follies of tnia sort, added to which he should count it as a gain that this particular form of extravagance adds to the general cheerfulness and gaiety of life. ... It seems to me, however, when looking backwards on the hideous dress, furniture, and general taste of the early Victorian era, that the reaction was inevitable, and that woman, has suffered so long Tinder the sting of suppressed ambitions that it is only fair she should have 'brighter days ; and, believe me, to a woman pleasure is undoubtedly more closely associated with beautiful clothes than with anything else. These are not always necessarily costly ones, but, to be candid, they are generally abov..the means of the woman who purchase 1 ! them. The servant will spend her oil on some particularly atrocious lace blouse or beflowered hat; the elegant mondaine will run into any amount of debt to buy a particular creation in Paris. Society women, we know, in. this country have to resort to various undignified subterfuges to get their dressmakers' bills paid, and very often they are not paid after all! Now, taking it all round, we. must make some allowance for tlie exigencies of modern society. which force women to unnecessaiy extravagance. Nevertheless, a clever woman, moving in good society, who can afford a maid, can dress well, and probably within her means, if she -will only n^ake up her mind not to buy unnecessarily at sales and collect cheap clothes which she do^s not want. It is this peculiar craze, combined with a foolish habit ot trying ev^iy■body else's dressmaker because she happens to be a shad* cheaper, that adds three or four frocks which ore failures to a woman's wardrobe every year ; whereas a single garment at perhaps twice the price will look just as well a year hence as it does to-day, more particularly if it has ■been bought at the right place, and if it be worn at the right moment, and "J>ut on" by the woman who has the intuitive knowledge of good style and 'taste. On all sides people rail against the growing advance of prices and the enormous variety of clothes made necessary by fashion. I do not deny that they are right in a measure ; but the remedy lies in their own hands, and the great secret of all good dressing is to buy one good garment instead of three indifferent ones-. Theie is a peculiar type of English matron who always will associate silken underwear (which, by the way, w^ars for five or six years) and fine batiste with disreputability and wild extravagance. Now, on the other hand, it should be remembered that the woman who buys with care and judgment is far less inclined to be foolishly extravagant than a woman without taste and a due appreciation of all that is elegant and womanly. That women want more variety of dress in these days is perfectly tme ; let sensible men recognise the faefc. and prefer that a high price should be paid for one frock, rather than that two should be purchased at a medium sum. That is the whole secret of economical dressing among the wealthier classes, and 'one which the Frenchwoman thoroughly understands, and the Englishwoman, alas ! does not. Women certainly are growing more extravagant, but I do not think we should entirely blame dress. They do more, they get about more, more is expected of them. They give dinners and luncheons, just as men do. They bet, play cards, and travel. Englishwomen to-day are becoming unpleasantly conscious of their equabty with men m many things, and in matters ot dress they have a distinct advantage. — "M. E P ,'' in the World.