or a dress that is beautiful in itself, or beautiful on one wearer,
may be a failure on another.

Study to "compose" your costume well; then, donning it, cease to think
of it or yourself. Lead up gently to all contrasting colors that are
introduced into a costume for linings of loose draperies, sleeves, or
as vests. Glaring contrasts, or "spotty" effects should be guarded
against. All brilliant colors in a costume should be reached gradually
like a climax in music, or a high light in a fine painting. Otherwise
there is a jar, and the harmony of relation is broken.

Complexion Determines Dress Colors.

Sometimes a color used sparingly in a knot of ribbon, or glimpsed as a
lining, is becoming, while the same color, used in quantity, or as a
ground color of the costume, might prove inharmonious with the
complexion.

It is well for every woman to choose a certain proved range of colors
that she _can_ bear, and to venture cautiously or seldom on new
experiments. These colors will be found like a musical scale, to
harmonize well in almost any combination. Thus beauty, convenience and
economy are all consulted by loyalty to these proved shades.

Endless arrangements might be suggested on the economical side of the
question. The light evening silk of the season before may be used for
lining or form the long loose front of the tea-gown of the present.
The rich draperies of last year's carriage gown may fitly furnish
forth the natty velvet vest and dainty bonnet to wear with this year's
street suit, and nothing be lost.

One more caution as to colors. The very delicate blonde who has
reveled in palest, daintiest shades must beware of presuming too long
on that evanescent bloom, lest she find herself basing the color of
her dress on a flower that faded years ago. Or else, maybe, on one
that has unfolded into a richer bloom, and by not adapting her color
scale to the changes of time, she loses all the beauty of the present.

Another mistake women make is to forget that lovely childish curves of
early youth change with the advancing years and the babyish style of
dressing, so becoming then, may be worn too long. The rounded throat
of the plump woman becomes muscular all too soon, and the delicate
throat of the slender woman is too prone to lose its soft outlines.

The changes of color that occur almost always in cool, pale blondes
are often but changes in beauty; still, these changes in complexion
must be met with changes