A FORTUNE FOR WOMEN'S DRESS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XIII, 27 March 1897, Page 398

A FORTUNE FOR WOMEN'S DRESS.

In speaking of the enormous sums spent annually by some of the society women of New York, such as Mrs John Jacob Astor. Mrs Herman Oelrichs. Mrs Lorillard, Mrs Belmont, and others of the same set, the statement has been made that several of them spend from /~4 000 to Z 5,000 for their winter wardrobes alone. MrsO. H. P. Belmont is said to have spent / 5,000 for her wardrobe the present season. How this can be done will be seen from the following list : — Ten gowns for hall and opera, /.’6oo ; ten bonnets. Z. 190 : one sealskin cape. /.So ; two fur muffs, £5O ; one ear muff, £26 \ one opera cloak. /'6O ; one opera cloak. Z'so; six pairs walking shoes. /. 16 ; four pairs danciug shoes, /To ; four pairs kid slippers, /T2 ; three dozen long gloves, Z 72 ; four dozen gloves for driving and walking. /'25 ; ten tea gowns. /’440 ; six dressing gowns. /Too ; three riding habits, /.So ; fourteen corsets. Z'B4 ; twelve pairs silk stockings /12 ; four dozen pair lisle stockings Z'29 ; two pairs bedroom slippers Z'4 ; four suits silt underwear, Z’4o; ten suits woollen underwear, Z4O ; lingerie, Z 300 ; four dozen handkerchiefs. /‘9;two dozen handkerchiefs,/ 9; two dozen handkerchiefs, £~ ; three dozen handkerchiefs. £y\\ toilet articles. Z'2oo ; tea gowns for walking and driving. Z'2oo ; three bath robes. Z'32 ; three fans. Z‘ls ; three pairs riding boots /15 ; two bicycle suits, /boo ; two travelling outfits, Z’4o ; two winter wraps. /'4O ; two winter wraps, £y> ; three skating outfits, Z'ss ; trimmings, ribbons, etc., £fx> ; four umbrellas, /io ; one sable trimmed wrap. /’2OO : three dinner gowns. Z’24o ; two evening cloaks. /.T6o ; one dozen veils. Z’3o ; jewellery, /‘i.ooo ; one fur wrap, /r6o ; two fur boas, Z4O ; two morning gowns, Z4O; two sleighing outfits, /So ; three theatre costumes, /.'6o ; one fancy dress ball costume, /"6o ; six pairs overshoes. /. I Ss. This does not include any of her other personal expenses. such as the cost of flowers, the pay of ladies' maids, money given in charity, the cost of opera and theatre boxes and the charge for entertaining and household maintenance. On clothes alone Mrs Belmont spends in a single winter season what would be a fortune to the ordinarv man.