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The mirror of the graces; or, the English lady's costume: combining and harmonizing taste and judgment, elegance and grace, modesty, simplicity and economy, with fashion in dress; and adapting the various articles of female embellishments to different ages, forms, and complexions; to the seasons of the year, rank, and situation in life: with useful advice on female accomplishments, politeness, and manners; the cultivation of the mind and the disposition and carriage of the body: offering also the most efficacious means of preserving beauty, health, and loveliness. The whole according with the general principles of nature and rules of propriety
(1811)
[On the detail of dress cont'd], pp. 107-124
Page 107
O1X TIIE DETAIL OF DRESS.
the other. The like harmony must be main-
tained between the complexion and the
colours we wear. For it is these minutim
which, like the nice and almost imperoeptible
touches of the ingenious artist, produce a
complete and faultless whole. That a hand-
some woman may disfigure herself by an in-
judicious choice or disposition of her attire;
and a plain one counteract the errors of na-
ture, so as to render herself at least agreeable;
almost every experienced observer has wit-
nessed. We may therefore conclude, that
beauty with a bad taste is far less desirable
than a good taste without beauty.
" What an awkward creature is that !" said
a gentleman to me the other evening at a
supper, and pointing to a slatternly beauty who
sat opposite, with her chin nearly reposing on
her bosom, and her shoulders drawn up almost
to her ears. " Yonder is a very elegant wo-
man !" observed he, directing my attention to
a lady who, critically considered, was rather
ordinary; 'but by her judicious style of dress,
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