Dress for All Occasions {Street or Shopping}

This week, I want to share with you a Dress for All Occasions Chart (1),  from one of my vintage books. We'll look at just one column today:

• Street or Shopping Clothes

I often look to 1950 standards in dress, as they knew a thing or two about good taste, and I teach many of the rules of proportion in Charm School.

The big idea for dress is that a proper costume is worn for each occasion. For example: jogging suits when jogging, sleeping wear when sleeping, and business suits for business. So, today, let's look at the vintage standard for Street or Shopping Clothes.  

What to Wear?

Clothing	For Street or Shopping
Hat.	Tailored.
Dress.	Tailored-cloth or silk in gray, tan, beige, or dark color.
Wrap.	Coat, light or dark, cloth, silk, or fur.
Shoes.	Oxfords or low-heeled pumps or ties.
Stockings.	Silk in suitable color.
Gloves.	Mocha or other serviceable leather, suede or kid in dark shades. Chamois.
Handbag.	Leather or silk, black, navy or dark shade, good size.
Jewelry.	Wedding and engagement rings, watch, brooch, earrings. No flashy stones.

Can you see the vintage standards for street and shopping? I find having a standard or dress code is a relief, so I don't have to guess.

Dress Codes Matter?  When visiting churches, I often read, on their websites, "come as you are." This leaves me guessing and searching out pictures as to how the congregation generally dresses.

• Do I wear jeans and a t-shirt?
• Do I wear a casual dress?
• Do I wear a suit dress?

While it is their desire to be kind and "accept you as you are;" I still want to know the general dress code. 

What Is Good Taste?  Taking that one step further, I think the first step in good taste is wearing the proper atire for the occasion.  When there is no standard, you might have a person wearing their pajamas to the grocery store -something I have witnessed.  Also, as Christians, we are to be modest.  Good taste is also modesty. In this, Christians are to be influencing the world, not the world influencing us. Going further, good taste is, rules of proportions, colors, and textures.

Why is good taste in our clothing so important?  I think this quote says much.
You are a very important person and are well worth the time and effort it is going to take to make you look your best.  Every samll thing you do to make yourself a lovelier person multiplies your enjoyment of living, the feeling of your own value, and also helps enrich the lives of those around you. (2)

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For thought or discussion

• What is good taste in dress?  Why is it important today?
• What differences do you see in the vintage standard of clothing?
• How can we adapt the street/shopping wear to our lives?
• What stands out to you as an important take-away? Any other thoughts?

(1) The Modern and Complete Book of Etiquette by Rivers.  (2) Family Circle's Complete Book of Beauty and Charm by Milo and Marshall.