How to Save Money on Your Wife's Clothing
Tucson Dating & Marriage Advice Circa 1950

The far-seeing husband knows how important it is for his wife to be well-groomed at all times. The sloppy, poorly dressed wife creates a bad impression everywhere, and can even be harmful to a man's standing in the community, and in his business relations. Remember that a dollar spent to make your wife lovely is a dollar invested not only in her future, but also in your own.

BUT BE THRIFTY

Luckily good grooming and careless spending do not go hand in hand. Some of our best-groomed matrons are ones who spent the least actual cash, though their investments in taste and careful planning can be large indeed. There are many ways for the thoughtful husband to help his wife cut clothing expenses.

Use the Model Wife

She can be the same character, real or fictitious, discussed in an earlier chapter. An occasional word or two about her can be inspiring.
“By the way, pet, Joe's wife stopped in at the office today. What a knockout!"
"Oh?"
"She hasn't your basic good looks, Phoeb—essentially a plain woman—" (A bit of flattery is good here.)
"It's just that she has a genius for clothes. She was wearing this suit—"
"Expensive, I'll bet."
"No, as a matter of fact she ran it up herself. Bought a thirty cent pattern, and used the old auto seat covers. Knocked it off in just a few weeks."

THE HAT PROBLEM

Though a woman's hat is utterly useless, performing no function whatever in warming, protecting, or shedding rain, and many women have an emotional desire for new ones. The husband who resists this stoutly will be doing his wife a real service. We list a few tested methods.

Admire Her Hair

A woman who has any hair at all believes it is beautiful. Knowing this is a valuable weapon in itself.
"Glorious the way this light strikes your hair, pet"
"Oh, you like it, Davie?"
"Flecks of pure gold in it."
(No matter what the color of a woman's hair, she will always accept the fact that it has flecks of gold in it.)
"Oh, really?"
"Take off that hat, will you?"
"But it's a new hat, Davie!"
"Ah, that's better! Why is it that you always look so much lovelier with your hat off? Must be your beauti­ful hair, pet."

Narrow the Field

If you aren't successful in eliminating the hat altogether, the next best thing is to reduce the number of variations. Always maintain that you prefer the small black hat, the smaller the better. Scoff at all decorations.
"How do you like my hat, Davie?"
"Fine, pet, really brings out the blue in your eyes."
{Make the opening remarks without looking at the hat.)
"You haven't even looked at it."
"Oh. Yes. Always liked that hat."
"It's a new hat, David."
"I liked it better before you put the little doohickey on it."
"David, it's new, the whole hat."
"Really? Well, why don't you just take the doohickey off anyway?"
"Well, if I do, it'll be just the same as the other one."
"Oh, will it?"

It may take a few years, but after a while she will begin to see the hidden logic of this.
If, on the other hand, you discover she has added an inexpensive decoration to an old hat, your course is clear.
"I like that new skimmer, Phoeb, does a lot for you." "It isn't new, Davie, I just put this little dime-store rhinestone on here, and—"
"Well, it looks new! By golly, somehow it does some­thing to your whole face, Phoeb, gives it a kinda glow."
If necessary, start this yourself. Pick up a sprig of bit­tersweet, say. There is a good supply in most reception rooms.
"For you, pet. Saw a nice little old lady selling it, and it just cried out for you! Remember that wonder­ful little black hat of yours?"
"Davie, they're practically all little black hats!"

"The one I like so much. There!"
(Pick any one, at random.) "Just toss the bittersweet here, pin it, and—voilal"
"Well, I don't know—"
"Really does something for you, Phoeb. Gives you a kinda glow."

The Woman-or-the-Hat Approach

Occasionally your wife, in spite of all your efforts, in­sists on a large and, she will think, dramatic hat. The unskilled husband objects violently. This is unwise. The more you protest, the more she will want the hat. Take the opposite tack, praise it extravagantly.
"You really like it, Davie?"
"Like it? Phoeb, I simply can't take my eyes off of it. I guess it's the most beautiful hat I've ever seen."
"Really?"
"Honest injun. It's such a really stunning hat that I wonder if—" (Hesitate a moment and then shake your head slowly.)
"What's the matter, Davie?"
"No, I think you could get away with it. Only a really beautiful face could compete with it, pet, and I think you're the gal."
"Oh?"
"Maybe with a little more lipstick, or something."

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.dotcomtucson.com