For example:  A conspicuous evidence of bad style that has persisted through numberless changes in fashion, is the over-dressed and over-trimmed head.  The woman of uncultivated taste has no more sense of moderation than the Queen of the Cannibals.  She will elaborate her hair-dressing to start with (this is all right, if elaboration really suits her type) and then she will “decorate” it with everything in the way of millinery and jewelry that she can lay her hands on.  Or, in the daytime, she fancies equally over-weighted hats, and rich-looking fur coats and the latest edition in the most conspicuous possible footwear.  And she much prefers wearing rings to gloves.  Maybe she thinks they do not go together?  She despises sensible clothing; she also despises plain fabrics and untrimmed models.  She also cares little (apparently) for staying at home, since she is perpetually seen at restaurants and at every public entertainment.  The food she orders is rich, the appearance she makes is rich; in fact, to see her often is like nothing so much as being forced to eat a large amount of butter-plain.

Beau Brummel’s remark that when one attracted too much notice, one could be sure of being not well-dressed but over-dressed, has for a hundred years been the comfort of the dowdy.  It is, of course, very often true, but not invariably.  A person may be stared at for any one of many reasons.  It depends very much on the stare.  A woman may be stared at because she is indiscreet, or because she looks like a left-over member of the circus, or because she is enchanting to look at.

If you are much stared at, what sort of a stare do you usually meet?  Is it bold, or mocking, or is it merely that people look at you wistfully?  If the first, change your manner; if the second, wear more conventional clothes; if the third, you may be left as you are.  But be sure of your diagnosis of this last.

=EXTRAVAGANCE NOT VULGARITY=

Ostentation is always vulgar but extravagance is not necessarily vulgar—­not by any means.  Extravagance can become dishonest if carried beyond one’s income.

Nearly everything that is beautiful or valuable is an extravagance—­for most of us.  Always to wear new gloves is an extravagant item for one with a small allowance—­but scarcely vulgar!  A laundry bill can be extravagant, flowers in one’s city house, a piece of beautiful furniture, a good tapestry, each is an extravagance to an income that can not easily afford the expenditure.  To one sufficient to buy the tapestry, the flowers are not an extravagance at all.

To buy quantities of things that are not even used after they are bought is sheer wastefulness, and to buy everything that tempts you, whether you can afford to pay for it or not, is, if you can not afford it, verging on the actually dishonest.

=DRESSES FOR DINNERS AND BALLS=

Supposing, since clothes suitable to the occasion are the first requisite of good taste, we take up a few details that are apart from fashion.