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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 124
12 1TItZOR OF TT GRAClES. difrent lights on these things, you purchase A robe of pale yellow, purple, lilac, or rose co- lour, you will be greatly disappointed when at night it is observed to you that your dress is either dingy, foxy, or black. The harmonious assortment of well-chosen colours was once quite a science amongst women: and even now it may not only be considered as a specimen of delicate taste, but a proof of that genius which, if cultivated: might distil the hues of Iris over the animated canvass fraught with beauty and life. This union of a thousand dyes " by na. ture's pure and cunning hand laid on," can. not be found in greater perfection than in the resplendent lap of summer; then the earth teems with gay enchantment, and presents to the fair wanderers throughher fragrant bowers the loveliest raiment for their beauties. This animating and native ornament, so interesting and charming in itself, should ever find a placc on the toilet of youth. How can a beauteous young woman (the fairest production of crea. tion) be more suitably a&med than with this 124
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