The Love of Dress

Excerpt from The Family at Home

By Gorham D. Abbott, 1833

To many young women, the love of dress is a great snare; it leads them into a series of mistakes from beginning to end. In the first place, they mistake by thinking that fine clothes sets off their appearance to advantage; whereas all people of taste acknowledge that real beauty does not need the aid of fine clothing, and that ugliness is only displayed and rendered more conspicuous by it.

Next, they imagine that fine clothes give them the appearance of belonging to a higher class of society, and prove their introduction to it. No such thing. The virtuous woman is revealed in her education, speech, and manners, which are not so easily imitated; and is more frequently distinguished by plainness of dress than by expensive clothing—which generally bears the stamp of vulgarity.

Another mistake is, they imagine that fine clothes will recommend them to the notice of young men, and lead to an advantageous marriage. This is a very unlikely thing! There are many young men who will admire such a girl as they would a peacock, and play with her as with a doll; but no sensible, godly young man would ever think of making her his wife! "No, no," says he; "give me a wife who does not carry her chief beauty outside, and all her wealth on her back! I must see the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price; and the treasures of understanding and discretion, and the fear of God, which are more precious than rubies, and more rare than diamonds!"

Another mistake of dressy girls is, that they imagine that foolish fellows, who flatter them about their beauty and fine appearance are really sincere, and mean what they say; while the truth is, that they in heart despise and ridicule them; or, if they feel any of the fondness they profess, it is but a base, selfish passion, to which they will not hesitate to sacrifice their pretty, garnished victim. 

Alas! by these mistakes thousands are every year brought to ruin and disgrace! She who thoughtlessly begins with the first and simplest of these mistakes, is in danger of proceeding to the last and grossest mistakes!

It was a judicious resolution of a father, as well as a most pleasing compliment to his wife, when, on being asked by a friend what he intended to do with his girls, he replied, "I intend to apprentice them to their mother, that they may learn the art of improving time, and be fitted to become like her—wives, mothers, heads of families, and useful members of society." Equally just, but bitterly painful, was the remark of the unhappy husband of a vain, thoughtless, dressy slattern—"It is hard to say it, but if my girls are to have a chance of growing up to be good for anything—they must be sent out of the way of their mother's example!"